Really? I don’t think the players should be equated with the regime…Isn’t the country afraid of team members defecting like the women’s team? Obviously, on this stage, that’d be way too risky but still.
Why? How do you know some of the male players aren't family members of the people holding high office in Iran? How do you know some of them aren't spies for the regime? You don't.
Any Iranian group travelling from Iran will be loaded with spies, malcontents and assassins.