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More Iranian women football players to leave Australia | Midday News Bulletin 15 March 2026

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SBS NEWS OK AUDIO 16X9 DAY Source: SBS News

In today's bulletin, Three more members of Iran's women's football team who were granted asylum in Australia return to Iran; St Patrick's Day celebrated with parades, music and dance; and in sport, Formula One races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia cancelled due to war in the Middle East.


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Iran's Tasnim News Agency has revealed the names of the three members of the Iranian women's football team who were granted asylum in Australia, but have now decided to return to Iran.

The agency has said in a post on X that Mona Hamoudi, Zahra Sarbali, and Zahra Meshkinkar have withdrawn their asylum applications in Australia, including a photo of the group apparently taken minutes before their departure for Malaysia to join other members of the team.

Australia's Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, has confirmed the departure of the three individuals in a statement, saying they were given repeated chances to talk about their options.

He says while the Australian government provided them with the opportunity for asylum, it cannot remove the context in which the players are making what he has called incredibly difficult decisions.

NOTE: Of the seven members of the football team who were granted humanitarian visas earlier this week, three remain in Australia; after an individual became the first to return to Iran - hours after requesting asylum.

US President Donald Trump says he is not ready to make a deal to end the war with Iran - at this stage.

In a telephone interview with NBC News, Mr Trump has said Iran is willing to make an agreement, but he is not happy with the terms - which he did not detail.

He has also dismissed concerns about rising gas prices, saying he is working with other countries to secure the Strait of Hormuz, an important shipping route for the world's oil supplies.

He had earlier called on allies - including China, France, Japan, South Korea, Britain and others - to send ships to the area.

Israel says it has struck more than 200 targets across Iran in the past 24 hours.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump declared US forces had "obliterated" targets on Iran's Kharg Island, which has an export terminal for 90 per cent of Iran's oil shipments.

Defence Minister Israel Katz says the attack on Kharg Island is a sign the war is ending a new decisive phase for the regime's leaders.

(Hebrew* then translated into English): "We are entering the decisive phase of the struggle, between the regime's attempts to survive, while causing increasing suffering to the Iranian people, and surrender. Only the Iranian people can put an end to this in a determined struggle - until the terrorist regime is overthrown and Iran is saved."

Iran's semiofficial Fars news agency says the US strikes caused no damage to oil infrastructure on the Island.

The speaker of the Iranian parliament has warned that such strikes would provoke a new level of retaliation.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the federal government is not expecting the supply of petrol in the country to run out, as the war in the Middle East continues.

He has told Sky News Agenda that Australia has more than enough fuel as it stands right now - with big stock piles of fuel including petrol, diesel and jet fuel.

The Treasurer says the government is working with the regulator (the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) on surveillance and reporting.

Mr Chalmers says unpredictability on the global oil market also depends on the duration of the war.

"We don't have a model that has petrol prices going that high but there's a lot of volatility and a lot of unpredictability in the global oil market. And of course when it comes to petrol at the bowser in Australia as well. We've seen just in the last few months the global oil prices going from around 60 dollars to 120 dollars."

Over 2,000 people have taken part in a St Patrick’s Day parade in the US city of Atlanta - a day that is meant to commemorate Ireland’s patron saint but has become a celebration of Irish heritage globally.

Michael Roberts says being part of the parade is special.

"For me, it's, to see the smiles on everybody's face, and to see the joy that it brings to everyone. And for me personally, the Irish heritage is part of my family. So for me to come out and be with a lot of people in the same situation, it's a thrill, just a thrill."

In Australia, St Patrick's Day is being marked (11am Sun 15 Mar) with a range of events.

That includes a parade in Sydney at Circular Quay and the Rocks; and a festival in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda (10am Sun 15 Mar).

To sport,

The Formula One grand prix races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have been cancelled on safety grounds.

Governing body FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile) says the races set for April would not go ahead - and no replacement dates have been organised at this stage.

Both countries have been struck during Iran's response to the strikes launched by US and Israel two weeks ago (28 Feb).

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem says the safety and wellbeing of the community and colleagues must come first.

***


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