Support has surged for the Iranian women’s football team after they were labeled ‘traitors’ by the country’s Islamic regime for their refusal to sing the national anthem.

In a bold act of defiance during Monday evening’s Asian Cup match against South Korea, the team stood silent during the anthem, prompting an angry backlash from Iranian authorities.

Mohammad Reza Shahbazi, a television host known for his radical allegiance to the regime, called on officials to brand the team as ‘traitors’.

“Let me just say one thing: traitors during wartime must be dealt with more severely,” he stated, according to a translation from the social media platform X.

The pressure seemed to impact the team, as they were later described as ‘hostages’ after singing the anthem before their 4-0 defeat by Australia on Thursday.

Nevertheless, fans attending the Asian Cup have shown their support for the Iranian players, who once again sang the anthem prior to their 2-0 loss to the Philippines today.

Videos posted to social media post-match appear to show the Iran team bus leaving the stadium surrounded by dozens of fans. According to one post, the players were spotted pleading for help through the windows of the vehicle using sign language.

Supporters, many carrying Iran flags, are then heard shouting, ‘save our girls’ in a show of solidarity with the women, who have now been knocked out of the tournament. 

Supporters have rallied around the Iranian women’s team after they were condemned by the Iranian state for refusing to sing the national anthem

Having refused to sing before a match on Monday, the Iranian women were later described as ‘hostages’ when they sang the anthem on Thursday

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

In his speech condemning the Iranian side’s defiance, presenter Shahbazi continued:  ‘Anyone who takes a step against the country under war conditions must be dealt with more severely. Like this matter of our women’s football team not singing the national anthem, and that photo that was published and so on, which I won’t get into.

‘Both the public and the authorities must treat these individuals as “wartime traitors.”

‘It should not be viewed merely as an objection or a symbolic gesture.

‘The stain of dishonour and treason must remain on their foreheads, and they must face a definitive and severe confrontation.’

Since the conflict broke out on Saturday, February 28, approximately 1,850 people have been killed in Iran, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Israel, Kuwait, Syria, the UAE, Oman and Bahrain. 

The Iranian regime today appointed its new Supreme Leader, with Ali Khamenei’s son Mojtaba Khamenei set to come into power. 

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

Mojtaba is not a high-ranking cleric, has never held office and does not have an official role in the regime.

Earlier in the day, Iran launched a series of ballistic missiles and drones at the UAE and Israel as it furiously retaliated after an overnight bombardment which left Tehran burning.

Explosions were heard over Tel Aviv, with missile warnings in the UAE, as Iran hit out following the Israeli attack on oil depots which caused a ‘river of fire’ to engulf its capital.

At least six people were injured in Israel, including one seriously, as a result of the barrage.