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7 November 2013 - 23:35

President of the International Federation of Football Sepp Blatter announced that FIFA is trying to return the assets of the Iranian Football Federation (IFF) which have been blocked due to the US and other western states’ sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear program.

This problems has unfortunately happened for a while and it has been imposed by the powerful politicians not only in the US but also other politicians (in the other countries),” Blatter said in a press conference in Tehran on Thursday when asked by FNA reporter about FIFA’s measures to return the IFF’s frozen assets.

“We cannot change the political decisions but we should find a solution to settle the issue,” he added.

“In our last meeting, the SECO in Switzerland was assigned with pursuing the problem since it (returnin the IFF's money) is an inalienable right (of Iran) and we hope that we can settle the issue as soon as possible,” Blatter said.

“I don’t say that the issue will be settled tomorrow or the day after tomorrow but we strive to solve it by the next FIFA general assembly,” he underlined.

In earlier remarks this week, Blatter gave his support to Iran's bid to host the 2019 Asian Cup during a visit to the country.

Blatter and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa of Bahrain met Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran on Wednesday, with Rouhani thanking both men "for their support for Iran's candidacy for the 2019 Asian Cup".

"Football can reinforce relations between nations," Rouhani added.

Iran won consecutive Asian Cups in 1968, 1972 and 1976, hosting the 1968 and 1976 tournaments.

 

News ID 185571