Iranian women’s football team signal ‘SOS’ from bus taking them back home after being branded ‘traitors  ‘ for refusing to sing national anthem

Iran’s women’s football team gave an ‘SOS signal’ on their way home from Australia after being branded ‘traitors’ by their country’s Islamic regime for refusing to sing the national anthem.

The women remained silent during the anthem ceremony of their Asian Cup match against South Korea on Monday evening, a defiant act that sparked an angry response from the Iranian State.

Television presenter Mohammad Reza Shahbazi, considered a radical spokesman of the regime, demanded that the authorities label the team as ‘traitors’.

“Let me just say one thing: Traitors during the war must be dealt with more harshly,” he said, according to a translation by social media platform X.

These comments appeared to affect the women, who were later declared ‘hostages’ while singing the anthem before the 4-0 defeat against Australia on Thursday.

But fans at the Asian Cup rushed to support the Iranians, who decided to sing once again before losing 2-0 to the Philippines today.

In videos shared on social media after the match, the Iran team bus is seen leaving the stadium in Australia surrounded by dozens of fans. According to one post, players were seen asking for help by saying “SOS” using sign language through the vehicle’s windows.

Fans, many carrying Iranian flags, can be heard shouting “save our girls” in solidarity with the women who were eliminated from the tournament.

Iranian women who refused to sing before Monday’s match were later described as ‘hostages’ while performing the anthem on Thursday.

The team’s initial refusal to sing their anthem came just two days after the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who brutally ruled Iran for more than four decades.

Presenter Shahbazi continued his speech condemning the Iranian side’s challenge as follows: ‘Anyone who takes steps against the country under war conditions should be treated more harshly. For example, our women’s football team not singing our national anthem, that photo published, etc. I will not go into such a subject.

‘Both the public and the authorities should treat these people as ‘wartime traitors’.

‘This should not be seen as a mere objection or a symbolic gesture.

‘The stain of dishonor and treason must remain on their foreheads, and they must face a decisive and violent confrontation.’

Approximately 1,850 people have been killed in Iran, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Israel, Kuwait, Syria, UAE, Oman and Bahrain since the conflict began on Saturday, February 28.

The Iranian regime appointed its new Religious Leader today, with Ali Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, coming to power.

Mojtaba, 56, Khamenei’s second eldest son, has strong ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and was chosen by Iran’s Assembly of Experts ‘under pressure from the Revolutionary Guard’, according to Iranian opposition publication Iran International.

Mojtaba is not a senior cleric, has never held office and has no official role in the regime.

Earlier in the day, Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles and drones at the UAE and Israel as it furiously retaliated after a night of bombardment that devastated Tehran.

After Iran’s attack on Israel’s oil depots caused a ‘river of fire’ to engulf its capital, explosions were heard in Tel Aviv as well as missile warnings in the UAE.

As a result of the dam, at least six people were injured in Israel, one seriously.