Iranian Soccer Team: 5 Players Leave Australia

0:00Stay informed on the world in two minutes or less with global news today. A fifth player from Iran's women's soccer team has left Australia after taking a refugee visa, government officials confirmed Monday. This leaves just two out of the original 17 members who stayed behind. The player departed late Sunday night following others who recently flew out. The team arrived in Australia last month for the women's Asian Cup right before tensions escalated in the Middle East on February 28th. Initially, six players and one support staffer accepted humanitarian visas as the rest headed to Malaysia on March 10th. Several has since changed their minds and rejoined the group in Kuala Lumpur. Iranian officials are celebrating the departures as a win over Australia and past U.S. pressure, while the Iranian community here blames threats from. Tehran. Diaspora leaders say the women faced intense family and regime pressure, forcing tough snap decisions. Australia ministers call it a complex personal matter and respect those who left, but they're

1:01fully supporting the two still here. The remaining players are in a safe spot, with help from the government and local Iranian groups to settle down. Experts note the publicity, turn this into a propaganda battle, overshadowing the women's safety. Officials deny any coercion by the staffer who left, insisting all were genuine seekers and communications with family continue despite strained ties. Tehran. This episode is supported by our sponsor, a pillow that sounds as good as it feels, built for listening in bed, S-O-L-I, solely pillow dot com.