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Israel carried out a series of precision strikes on military targets in Iran late last month. AdvertisementIran is signaling that it will deliver a harsh response to Israel's late-October strikes, which were revenge for Tehran's retaliatory ballistic missile attack at the start of the month. However, another direct Iranian attack on Israel — which would be its third ever — invites additional Israeli strikes at a time when Tehran is dangerously unprepared. Israel struck several S-300s, a Russian-made surface-to-air missile system considered to be the most advanced air-defense battery that Iran operates. He said last week that the strikes on Iran's air-defense network create "a huge disadvantage for the enemy when we will want to strike later."
Persons: Israel, , Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Israel —, Salemi, Vahid, Yoav Gallant Organizations: Service, AP, Institute for, Embassy, Israeli, Planet Labs PBC, Israel, US, Pentagon Locations: Iran, Israel, Tehran, Russian, Washington, Iran's
Iran vows revenge over Nasrallah's deathIsraeli forces killed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the militant and political group Hezbollah, in a large-scale attack in Beirut on Friday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the U.S. last week for meetings with Trump, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The ride-or-die fans of historically bad White SoxSights, scenes and snacks at the Los Angeles Angels-vs.-Chicago White Sox game at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago on Tuesday. Akilah Townsend for NBC NewsWith Friday's loss, the Chicago White Sox broke the record for the most losses in a Major League Baseball season. Leading up to the historic 121st loss, NBC News spoke with loyal White Sox fans whose support has not wavered despite the team's bad season.
Persons: Hassan Nasrallah, Vahid, Benjamin Netanyahu, Nasrallah, Abbas Nilforoushan, Abbas Aragchi, Israel, Yemen’s Ras Issa, Helene, Hurricane Helene, Joe Biden, Roy Cooper, Sheriff Quentin Miller, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Harris, Joe Biden’s, Press Sen, Marco Rubio, Biden, Trump, ” Rubio, Kristen Welker, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Eric Adams, Sarah McBride, Akilah Townsend, I'm, Lance Norton, Mori, Tom Carpenter, , Rashee Rice, Ashley Landis Organizations: Hezbollah, Israeli, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iranian, U.S ., Israel Defense Forces, NBC, Sheriff, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, , NBC News, Telemundo, CNBC, Democratic, NBC News ’, Party, Press, U.S, Trump, New York, Republicans, Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Chicago White Sox, Major League Baseball, 121st, White Sox, American Pet Products Association Locations: Beirut, Iran, Lebanon, U.S, Hurricane, Florida, North Carolina, Buncombe County, Tennessee, Austria, Russia, Ukraine, Chicago
Israel announced on Saturday that its forces have killed Hassan Nasrallah, the powerful leader of the Lebanese militant and political group, Hezbollah, in what would mark a major escalation amid mounting hostilities at its northern border with Lebanon. An Iranian woman hold a poster of Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah, with text in Arabic reading: "At your service Nasrallah" during an anti-Israeli rally in Tehran, Iran, on Friday. Vahid Salemi / APEarlier on Friday, a Hezbollah spokesman had said Nasrallah, who was seldom seen in public, was not in one of the buildings struck by Israeli forces and was "fine." Hezbollah has vowed to continue its campaign against Israel until it ends its nearly yearlong offensive in Gaza. “Israel no longer seems to fear clashing head-on with Iran,” Hussain said, adding, “Israel will not fear entering a larger operation."
Persons: Israel, Hassan Nasrallah, Nasrallah, “ Hassan Nasrallah, Vahid, Bashar al, Assad, Amal, Sayyed Abbas Musawi, Ed Husain, Israel ”, , ” Hussain, Najib Mikati, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Hussain, Husain, Biden Organizations: Lebanese, Israel Defense Forces, Hezbollah, NBC, Amal, Associated Press, Party, United, Council, Foreign Relations, Friday, NBC News, Hariri International, Lebanese Health Ministry, Reuters, Hamas, U.S . Locations: Lebanon, Iran, Beirut, Iranian, Tehran, Israel, Syria, Gaza, Karantina, Najaf, Iraq, Islam, Beqaa, U.S, United Nations, “ Israel, Dahieh, New York, Washington
In 2007, The Guardian reported that Iran ranked second only to Thailand in the number of gender-affirming surgeries performed. Related stories"They told me I had two options," she told BI. Molkara, who died in 2012, was instrumental in securing the fatwa that legalized gender-affirming surgeries in Iran. Related stories"The questions were so graphic that my mom, at some point, left the room," she told BI. Homosexuality as a sinJavad Sadidi, a Mashhad surgeon who specializes in gender-affirming surgeries, told BI that the process takes a minimum of two years.
Persons: Varamini, He'd, Becca Kia, I'm, Ajoudani, she's, Vahid, Ruhollah Khomeini, Khomeini's, Maryam Khatoon Molkara, Molkara, Khomeini, Kaveh Kazemi, Legal Medicine Organization —, Pooya, Eugene Gologursky, it's, Sadidi, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, SPENCER PLATT, Elina, Shadi Sadr, who's, Soheil, he's Organizations: Business, Guardian, Eleos, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Revolutionary Guard Corps, State Welfare Organization of, Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade, Legal Medicine Organization, BI, Columbia University, Justice, Tristar Media, United, Lancet, Global Surgery, State Welfare Organization of Iran, Mahtaa Institute Locations: Tehran, Shayan, Iran, Thailand, Tehran's, Islamic Republic, Iraq, London, State Welfare Organization of Iran, Iranian American, Mashhad, Shadi, Iranian, Shadi Sadr, United Nations, Karaj, Canada
Citi lost 17 bankers from its successful workplace-wealth group to BMO. from its successful workplace-wealth group to The exodus follows the exit of unit head Naz Vahid and at least 24 other senior wealth executives. The best-in-class unit lost 17 bankers on Friday to Bank of Montreal, two former senior executives told Business Insider. The exodus includes the head of the law firm business and interim head of Wealth at Work, Joe Ryan. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.
Persons: Naz Vahid, Andy Sieg, , , Joe Ryan Organizations: Citi, BMO, Service, Citigroup, Bank of, Business Locations: Bank of Montreal
Andy Sieg shocked the finance industry last spring when he left Merrill Wealth Management. AdvertisementBank of America analyst Ebrahim Poonawala recently argued that Citi should consider selling the wealth business if it cannot improve its profitability. AdvertisementWhile Sieg has told Citi managing directors to manage up less, a former Merrill executive who worked under him said Sieg was adept at it. Former Citi managing directorAdvertisementVahid's position will be taken by Kris Bitterly, the global head of investment products, in September. Mirroring tactics that supercharged Merrill, Sieg has changed Citi Wealth's compensation scheme to prioritize asset gathering, to the consternation of several employees.
Persons: Andy Sieg, Kevin Crain, Sieg, Crain, Jane Fraser, Fraser, Morgan Stanley, Merrill, Smith Barney, Ebrahim Poonawala, Wells, Mike Mayo, Brian Moynihan, Alex Wong, Moynihan, Fraser isn't, Mayo, anoint, Jamie Dimon, Jennifer Piepszak, Marianne Lake, Viswas Raghavan, Jane, He'd, George H, Bush, Bill Schreyer, Merrill Lynch, Dave Komansky, David Komansky, YOSHIKAZU TSUNO, Phil, Doug, Lord Abbett, David Poole, Citi's, there's, That's, Poole, Glenn Schorr, Jim O'Donnell, O'Donnell, Sieg's, Andy Sieg's, Naz Vahid, David Bailin, Bailin, Naz, Phil Waxelbaum, Vahid, Kris, Don Plaus, Keith Glenfield, Dawn Nordberg, Edward Jones, They're, Ernst & Young, he's Organizations: Merrill Wealth Management, Business, Citi, Bank of America, Morgan, BI, Merrill, Bank, Citigroup, JPMorgan, Harvard, Penn State, JPMorgan Advisors, United Arab, Citi . Citi, Work, Citi lifer, Former Citi, North, Citi Alliance, Citi Wealth, Bloomberg, Ernst &, Citizens Bank Locations: Sieg, Wells Fargo, Merrill, Bellefonte , Pennsylvania, Poole, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Mexico, London, Aventura , Florida, Asia, Manhattan, North America
But the leadership of its ailing wealth unit is continuing to undergo major changes under its new boss Andy Sieg. Citi's wealth unit has seen at least 21 senior executives exit since Merrill Lynch veteran Sieg joined in September. The latest is Julia Carreon, global head of wealth platform and experiences. Sieg also plans to expand Citi's already successful wealth business in Asia. Here is our running list of senior departures from Citi Wealth.
Persons: , Andy Sieg, Merrill Lynch, Sieg, Julia Carreon, Naz Vahid, Carreon, David Bailin, Fraser, Andy, Mark Mason, Shyam Sambamurthy, Merrill, Don Plaus, Hale Behzadi, Dawn Nordberg, Morgan Stanley, Citi David, Francesco Bertoni, Alfonso Camacho Bustillo, Hoyt, Paul Hodes, Robert Hoffman, Keith Lee Hong, Li, Liu, Fernando Lopez Munoz, Alex Marshall, Eduardo Martinez Campos, Luigi Pigorini, Fernando Senso, Jeff Sutton, Naz, Vahid, Eduardo, Seamus Yin, Hayley Cuccinello Organizations: Service, Citi, Citi Wealth, Business, Bankers, Citi Global Wealth, North America, Francesco Bertoni EMEA, Hoyt Gier Global, South, Asia, Fernando Lopez Munoz Head, Tate, Eduardo Martinez Campos Head, Mark Mills Regional, Fernando Senso Castilla Global, Jeff Sutton Global, Eduardo Ventura, West Locations: Asia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Paul Hodes Asia, South Asia, Keith Lee Hong Kong, Asia Pacific, Shyam Sambamurthy South Asia, Fernando Senso Castilla, America, West China, hcuccinello@businessinsider.com
One familiar name stood out to US officials: the new acting foreign minister, Ali Bagheri Kani. Just last week in Oman, Kani was part of a delegation of senior Iranian officials that met indirectly with US officials, current and former officials said. In the wake of the death of so many of his top officials, US officials believe that Khamenei will work to ensure that replacements adhere to his hardline worldview. “It’s difficult to see there will be any major changes in the way Iran behaves on the world stage,” a senior administration official said. In talks with Iranian officials in Oman last week, US officials once again laid out for their counterparts the consequences of Iran’s destabilizing actions, behavior and policies, according to the senior administration official and a US official.
Persons: Ali Bagheri Kani, Kani, Biden, Ebrahim Raisi, Ali Khamenei, Raisi, Jonathan Panikoff, ” Khamenei, Khamenei, , Panikoff, , Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Vahid, , Matt Miller Organizations: CNN, US, Supreme, Experts, Tehran ”, State Department Locations: Iran, United States, Oman, Gaza, Washington, Tehran, Israel, Kani
In today's big story, we're looking at Google's big event that's pitching all the ways AI agents can make our lives easier . Google I/O, the tech giant's biggest developer conference, was heavy on the rise of so-called AI agents , writes Business Insider's Hugh Langley, who was there in person. AdvertisementGoogle's faithful, old search engine got a noticeable facelift with the help of AI , writes BI's Geoff Weiss. Steven Puetzer/Getty, Tyler Le/BIThe stakes for Google are high, as nailing AI agents opens up a massive business opportunity. For AI agents to be so intuitive, they'll need access to seemingly every aspect of our lives.
Persons: , Tyler Le, you've, OpenAI's ChatGPT, Hugh Langley, Sundar Pichai, Geoff Weiss, Hugh, Alistair Barr, Gregory Wayne, Steven Puetzer, hasn't, Alistair, Demis Hassabis, Minchillo, Keith Gill, Naz Vahid, Andy Sieg's, Noah Berger, Jia Feng, Tingting Ji, Jenny Chang, Rodriguez, BI's Peter Kafka, Dan DeFrancesco, Jordan Parker Erb, Hallam Bullock, George Glover Organizations: Service, Business, Google, Astra, GameStop, AMC Entertainment, JPMorgan, Citi, Amazon Web Services, Walmart, UPS, Nielsen, Cisco Systems, Warner Bros, Discovery Locations: New York, Dublin, London
Read previewCiti's ailing wealth business has one bright spot: a division devoted to serving rich law-firm partners and other wealthy executives. She's one of at least 20 senior wealth executives to depart since Andy Sieg took over Citi's wealth business in September after leaving Merrill Lynch. AdvertisementAndy Sieg took over Citi's wealth division in September after leaving Merrill Lynch. Merrill LynchVahid's unit, Wealth at Work, is the smallest but fastest-growing part of Citi's wealth division. Naz then spearheaded the expansion of this successful model with the creation of Wealth at Work, a cornerstone of our Wealth business.
Persons: , Mehrnaz, Naz, Vahid, Andy Sieg, Merrill Lynch, Sieg, Naz Vahid, Andy Organizations: Service, Citi, Business, Wealth, Law Firm Group
CNN —Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he “cannot accept” Hamas’ demands to end the war in Gaza as the two sides traded blame amid fresh ceasefire talks that showed little sign of a breakthrough. But the latest comments from Israel and Hamas show how far apart the two remain. He said Hamas’s demand that Israel withdraw from Gaza was out of the question. Most recently, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held another round of high-stakes talks in Israel on Wednesday. Following the rocket barrage, Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) blamed Hamas aid not reaching the besieged strip.
Persons: CNN —, Benjamin Netanyahu, , Ismail Haniyeh, Israel, Vahid, Haniyeh, ” Netanyahu, , Antony Blinken, Yoav Gallant, ” Galant, ” Gallant, COGAT Organizations: CNN, CNN — Israel’s, Sunday, US, Israeli, , Defense Ministry, IDF, Israel Defense Forces, Brigades Locations: Gaza, Cairo, Israel, Egypt, , The State, “ Israel, Rafah, Gazan, Kerem Shalom, Territories
[1/4] A formation of Israeli tanks is positioned near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel October 21, 2023. Iran, a longtime backer of Gaza's rulers Hamas, finds itself in a quandary as it tries to manage the spiralling crisis, according to nine Iranian officials with direct knowledge of the thinking within the clerical establishment. "We are in contact with our friends Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah," Vahid Jalalzadeh, the head of parliament's National Security Committee said on Wednesday, according to Iranian state media. Iran's foreign ministry didn't respond to a request for comment about the country's response to the unfolding crisis, while Israeli military authorities declined to comment. "Iran's nuanced position emphasizes the delicate balance it must maintain between regional interests and internal stability," said the former senior Iranian official.
Persons: Violeta Santos Moura, wouldn't, Avi Melamed, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Israel, Israel didn't, Khamenei, Joe Biden, Biden, John Kirby, Washington, Jon Alterman, Parisa Hafezi, Jonathan Saul, Jerusalem, Arshad Mohammed, Laila Bassam, Samia Nakhoul, Michael Georgy, Pravin Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Islamic, parliament's National Security, Israel, Wednesday, Hezbollah, U.S, Germany's Ramstein Air Base, House, State Department, CSIS, Swiss, Iran, Iranian, Thomson Locations: Israel's, Gaza, Israel, Rights DUBAI, Iran, Tehran, U.S, Lebanon, Yemen, United States, Islamic Republic, Iranian, Lebanese, Syria, Iraq, Washington, America, GAZA, LEBANON, China, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Beirut, Paritosh, New York
Iran's Quandary: How to Stay Out of Israel's War on Hamas
  + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com   time to read: +9 min
Iran, a longtime backer of Gaza's rulers Hamas, finds itself in a quandary as it tries to manage the spiralling crisis, according to nine Iranian officials with direct knowledge of the thinking within the clerical establishment. "We are in contact with our friends Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah," Vahid Jalalzadeh, the head of parliament's National Security Committee said on Wednesday, according to Iranian state media. Iran's foreign ministry didn't respond to a request for comment about the country's response to the unfolding crisis, while Israeli military authorities declined to comment. Khamenei, the supreme leader, has denied Iran was involved in the attack, though he praised the damage inflicted on Israel. "Iran's nuanced position emphasizes the delicate balance it must maintain between regional interests and internal stability," said the former senior Iranian official.
Persons: Parisa Hafezi, Jonathan Saul, Arshad Mohammed DUBAI, wouldn't, Avi Melamed, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Israel, Israel didn't, Khamenei, Joe Biden, Biden, John Kirby, Washington, Jon Alterman, Jerusalem, Arshad Mohammed, Laila Bassam, Samia Nakhoul, Michael Georgy, Pravin Char Organizations: Reuters, Islamic, parliament's National Security, Israel, Wednesday, Hezbollah, U.S, Germany's Ramstein Air Base, House, State Department, CSIS, Swiss, Iran, Iranian Locations: Iran, Israel, Gaza, Tehran, U.S, Lebanon, Yemen, United States, Islamic Republic, Iranian, Lebanese, Syria, Iraq, Washington, America, GAZA, LEBANON, China, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Beirut, Paritosh, New York
CNN —Iran’s morality police will resume patrols to make women comply with strict Islamic dress codes, state media reported Sunday, 10 months after the death of a young woman in their custody triggered nationwide protests. Saeid Montazeralmahdi, spokesman for Iran’s enforcement body, Faraja, said police will restart vehicle and foot patrols across the country from Sunday, the state-run Fars news agency reported. Authorities responded violently to suppress the months-long movement, during which witnesses said the morality police had virtually disappeared from the streets of Tehran. The morality police have access to power, arms and detention centers and control over “re-education centers,” Human Rights Watch told CNN last year. The centers act like detention facilities, where women – and sometimes men – are taken into custody for failing to comply with the state’s rules on modesty.
Persons: Saeid Montazeralmahdi, Amini, Vahid, Organizations: CNN, Authorities, , Rights Watch, European Union Locations: Fars, Tehran, Iran, United States
A California lawyer allegedly spent $10 million in loans for fake clients to fund a Las Vegas lifestyle for six months. LDR International, the company claiming to have funded the loans, sued Sara Jacqueline King this month. King claims in a new court filing that her ex-husband manipulated her, and forced her to gamble. LDR claims this prevented it from ever knowing for sure whether their loans were actually given to the intended client. King allegedly served as an intermediary in the loan process separate from her law practice, King Reuben, starting when she formed the King Family Lending LLC in February 2020.
Morocco's round of 16 success is no fluke
  + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com   time to read: +6 min
The Atlas Lions had roared to stun 2010 World Cup winner Spain and reach the quarterfinals of Qatar 2022. “Now it is the Africans and Arabs.”For many, it was the shock of the tournament, as the North Africans won their first ever knockout game at a World Cup. Many Moroccans thought that it could be after the World Cup or in a few years, but none were unhappy when it was announced he would take over the national side less than 100 days before their first game at the World Cup. In African football, Regragui has often been compared with José Mourinho thanks to his tactical discipline and stellar man-management skills. Morocco’s success at the World Cup may be best story of the tournament so far, but it is not the not the result of luck and grit, but rather expertise and planning.
Mr Avocado Head has Morocco daring to dream
  + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Shady Amir | ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +4 min
When the appointment of Regragui following the departure of Bosnian Vahid Halilhodzic was announced in August, underwhelmed pundits branded him "avocado head" as a belittling term of derision. Morocco first grabbed attention at the World Cup with a goalless draw against Croatia, the runners-up four years ago. Unfortunately, I did not play in the World Cup. "I think Africans can go far, why not dream of winning the cup? The Moroccan people made us united on the field," Regragui told Bein Sports.
Morocco's 'avocado head' plots another World Cup shock
  + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Shady Amir | ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +2 min
Spain, who humbled Costa Rica 7-0 in their opening game, finished second in Group E behind Japan while Morocco defied the odds to win Group F ahead of Croatia and Belgium. The Spanish, world champions in 2010, lost their last group match to Japan and face a difficult test from a Moroccan side growing in confidence under coach Walid Regragui. Spain drew 1-1 with Germany following their rout of Costa Rica and after the loss to Japan coach Luis Enrique was critical of his team. This was impossible because in five minutes, Japan scored two goals ... we were out, we were dismantled," he said. In the first half against Costa Rica, Spain's 537 successful passes set a World Cup record but they will need to show more cutting edge to stay on course for a second world title.
Against Belgium, man of the match Ziyech showed what the team was missing in a brilliant performance that helped Morocco to their first World Cup victory since beating Scotland 3-0 in 1998. "He is incredible, the spirit he has, coming back to the national team," a jubilant Regragui said. "A lot of people talk about him, say he is crazy and difficult to manage, that he can't help the team. Ziyech had Morocco's first shot on goal in the second half, and was allowed to move freely between the lines in the front third, tormenting the Belgian defence. Another substitute, Abdelhamid Sabiri, struck the shot that touched captain Romain Saiss on its way in for the first goal.
AL RAYYAN, Qatar, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has warned the Belgian-born players in his squad to stay focused when they face Roberto Martinez's men in the World Cup on Sunday, saying they risk costly mistakes if they get emotional on a "special" occasion. "For any dual national .. they have a special emotion and that's a positive energy and you have to draw on that," Regragui told reporters on Saturday. Morocco are tied with Croatia on one point, with Belgium the leaders on three points and Canada bottom with zero. "He is out for now but hopefully he will back for tomorrow," Regragui said. Morocco beat Belgium 4-1 the last time the teams met in 2008 in an international friendly.
Saka at the double as England hit Iran for six
  + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +4 min
England came into the tournament without a win in six games, but a dynamic opening 45 minutes in which Jude Bellingham scored his first England goal, Bukayo Saka doubled the lead and Raheem Sterling grabbed a third set up a second-half stroll. While Iran's Taremi grabbed another from the penalty spot in the 13th minute of stoppage time, given for a minor shirt pull after a VAR review, England's work was already done. read moreThe game eventually took centre stage and it was not long before England were in top gear. Shaw was the provider again for England's second goal as his corner was headed back across the area by Harry Maguire to Saka, who volleyed expertly into the top corner. England were not done however, as Saka grabbed his second in the 62nd minute.
CNN —Iran’s record international goalscorer Ali Daei said on Monday that he refused an invitation to attend the World Cup in Qatar next week to stand in solidarity with Iranian protesters. “I rejected the official invitation of FIFA and Qatar Football Federation to attend the World Cup with my wife and daughters,” he wrote on Instagram. The 53-year-old Iranian football legend scored 109 goals for Iran between 1993 and 2006, a record broken by Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo last year. Football player Sardar Azmoun also potentially risked missing out on being selected for the World Cup after criticizing the government. Long live Iranian women.”However, Azmoun was named in Iran’s World Cup squad on Sunday.
CNN —Iranian officials said they have identified the “Iran International agent” arrested Thursday as Elham Afkari, the sister of famous Iranian wrestler Navid Afkari, who was executed two years ago, according to state news agency IRNA. Wrestler Navid Afkari was executed by the Iranian government on September 12, 2020. “It should be noted that she [Elham Afkari] is the sister of Navid Afkari, the killer of martyr Torkman, an employee of the regional water company of Fars province,” IRNA reported. Saeed Afkari, Elham and Navid’s brother, confirmed his sister’s arrest on Twitter on Thursday, saying that Elham’s three-year-old daughter was also missing. Since Navid Afkari was executed, his family has faced many court cases over involvement in the demonstrations in 2018.
CNN —A law firm has sent a letter to FIFA on behalf of a group of former and current Iranian sports figures urging football’s governing body to suspend the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) and ban it from participating at this year’s World Cup in Qatar. Iranian authorities have since unleashed a brutal crackdown on demonstrators, who have united around a range of grievances with the country’s authoritarian regime. Iran faces England in its first match of football’s flagship event on November 21, followed by a game against Wales on November 25. The nation is also set to face the United States in its third and final group stage match on November 29. CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly named four Iranian players and former players as among those who signed the letter sent by Spanish law firm Ruiz-Huerta and Crespo.
Editor’s Note: Wrestler Navid Afkari was executed by the Iranian government on September 12, 2020. On that fateful morning, he learned that another Iranian wrestler, Navid Afkari, had been executed, hanged for a crime that his family and friends say he didn’t commit. The spirit of wrestling is deeply engrained in Iranian culture, where it has transcended the arena of sport. The executionAccording to the Afkari family, his final days were brutal, but there wasn’t necessarily any reason to think that the end was near. Iranians in Canada on Mel Lastman Square demonstrate against the execution of wrestler Navid Afkari by the Iranian regime, in Toronto, Ontario in September 2020.
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