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Iran bans US wrestlers from participating in Freestyle World Cup

Iran today banned US wrestlers from participating in the Freestyle World Cup competition to be held in Iranian city Kermanshah, according to IRNA news agency report.

Hassan Rouhani Iran today banned US wrestlers from participating in the Freestyle World Cup com

Iran today banned US wrestlers from participating in the Freestyle World Cup competition to be held in Iranian city Kermanshah, according to IRNA news agency report.  

Iran has taken this step in response to President Donald Trump's executive order forbidding visas for Iranians.

The report quotes Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi as saying a special committee reviewed the case and "eventually the visit by the U.S. freestyle wrestling team was opposed."

He further said that the policy of the new US administration left Iran no other choice but to ban the wrestlers.

The competition in the western Iranian city of Kermanshah is scheduled for Feb. 16-17.

USA Wrestling had said it would send a team to the Freestyle World Cup, one of the most prestigious competitions in international wrestling.