Follow live: Some members of Iranian football delegation not offered visas, Burke says

Regarding reports that one member of the Iranian women's football team refused to get on the plane in Sydney, Tony Burke says there was one player who boarded later than others because they were speaking to family.

"There was one person where conversations with family were happening, and we weren't sure which way that person would go. That individual, though, ultimately made their own decision," the Home Affairs minister says.

"There is a lot of work, including me sending messages back and forth from my plane, trying to find the right numbers, and ultimately getting somebody to call the home affairs number from overseas so that the conversation could happen. But the people who that individual wanted to talk to were all made available."

— Alexandra Koster

Australia's Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, has confirmed that two additional members of the Iranian women's football team have sought asylum in Australia, after five members of the team were granted humanitarian visas yesterday.

"Two members of the group that was part of the Iranian women's soccer delegation had indicated that they wanted to take up an offer from Australia. One was a player. One was a support person," Burke says.

Burke says both were offered humanitarian visas, which have a pathway to permanent visas. Those were processed overnight.

"After I'd flown on to Sydney, those two women were reunited with the other five players," Burke says.

He added that each player was separated as they went through customs and offered the chance to stay in Australia.

Tony Burke said most members of Iran's national women's football team were taken to interview rooms without minders present. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

"They were given a chance. Each player, and each member of the team — with the exception of a small number of people, where we had made the decision that we did not want to make a direct offer to them — but all the players remaining and most of the support people were taken into interview rooms without any minders present."

"They were given a choice in that situation. What we made sure of was there was no rushing, there was no pressure. Everything was about ensuring the dignity for those individuals to make a choice."

Burke says that some players wanted to make contact directly with their family members in the room before making their decision. "None of those individuals made the decision to take up the offer from Australia," he says.

"There was no way we were going to see people make it all the way to a plane without having them away from every minder, without having them completely on their own, with a chance to call family if they wanted, so that as best people, they had agency over their decision."

— Alexandra Koster

There's a lot that's happened overnight in the Middle East. Here's what you need to know:

• Pentagon chief Pete Hesgeth has warned that today will be the "most intense" day of US strikes yet
• United States President Donald Trump says the US has "completely destroyed" ten inactive mine-laying vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, "with more to follow"
• Trump also issued a warning to Iran over any attempt to place mines in the waterway, saying they must be moved "IMMEDIATELY" or the consequences to Iran will "be at a level never seen before"
• Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has rejected claims from the Trump administration that Iran was planning to attack the US or US forces ahead of the joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran that prompted the war, calling it "sheer and utter lie". The US and Israel have repeatedly justified their attack on Iran as "pre-emptive"

• White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the conflict will continue until Iran agrees to a "complete and unconditional surrender"
• The US has reportedly asked Israel to pause strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure — the first time the US has asked its ally to pull back since the war began 11 days ago

— Alexandra Koster

Retired Socceroos captain and human rights activist Craig Foster has called for greater accountability from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation, saying it was "foreseeable" that Iranian players would seek asylum.

"There will have to be accountability by the Asian Football Confederation and by FIFA as to what did not occur, what processes were not in place ... this should have been avoidable," Foster told the Australian Associated Press.

"It was foreseeable before the tournament. What has happened is neither uncommon ... and was preventable."

Former Socceroos captain Craig Foster called for reform of global sport governance as women continued to be placed in these situations "far too often". Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

He called for reform of global sport governance as he said women continued to be placed in these situations "far too often".

There have been previous instances where athletes have claimed asylum during sporting events, such as when the Afghan women's cricket team, staff and family members fled to Australia after the Taliban's takeover in 2021.

— Alexandra Koster, Australian Associated Press

Two federal government sources have confirmed to SBS News that two more women from the Iranian soccer delegation are seeking asylum in Australia, taking the total number to seven.

The remaining Lionesses departed Australia on Tuesday night, but two additional players did not board their final flight at Sydney Airport.

The offer of asylum was open to other players, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday.

There are fears for the players' safety after they were labelled "traitors" by Iranian state media for refusing to sing the national anthem before their Asian World Cup opening match, in an apparent silent protest. Refugee advocates have said those returning to Iran could possibly face execution, while their families may face retaliation from the regime.

We'll get more details when they come through.

— Alexandra Koster, Anna Henderson

Two additional Iranian football players have reportedly sought asylum in Australia after competing in the Women's Asian Cup tournament.

Asked about it this morning on ABC News, Foreign Minister Penny Wong palmed it off to Australia's home affairs minister, Tony Burke.

"We have offered the opportunity to speak privately with Australian officials to team members," Wong says. "We have had five who have taken up Australia."

"Tony Burke is shortly [up] ... I will leave it for him to confirm if there have been any more who have taken up that offer. This is a sensitive situation, and there has been a lot done by Tony Burke and his officials to ensure that these offers could be made and could be taken up."

Multiple outlets have reported that one of the players refused to get on a plane leaving the country at the last minute on Tuesday night. Wong also would not confirm this.

Protesters opposed to the Iranian regime gathered at Sydney airport on Tuesday night, where remaining members of the Iranian national women's football team left the country. Source: AAP / Sarah Wilson

It's expected that Burke will speak at about 9am.

— Alexandra Koster

Good morning, thanks for joining our coverage of the war in the Middle East.

There are grave concerns after members of Iran's national women's football team who did not seek asylum in Australia departed the country on a flight from Sydney on Tuesday night. Demonstrators opposed to the Iranian government gathered at the airport.

The team had been labelled "traitors" by Iranian state media for refusing to sing the national anthem before their opening match in the Asian Cup.

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'She can't make a decision': Desperate plea amid fears Iranian players are being coerced

The government confirmed yesterday that five members of the team had been granted humanitarian visas. There have been reports that two more members have also sought asylum, but there has not yet been any official confirmation from the government.

Meanwhile, the United States and Israel are carrying out what US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has described as "our most intense day of strikes" yet against Iran.

Stay with us as we bring you the biggest updates throughout the day.

— Alex Gallagher