• The Iranian women's soccer team returned to Iran after five players withdrew asylum claims in Australia.
• Concerns about their safety arose following their silent protest during the national anthem at the Asia Cup.
• Two players remain in Australia after seeking asylum due to fears of persecution.

The Iranian women's soccer team crossed the Turkish border into Iran on Wednesday to complete a complex return from Australia after five players withdrew their asylum claims. Australia had earlier granted humanitarian visas to six players and one support staff member who expressed fears of persecution upon returning to Iran, particularly after incidents surrounding a recent match at the women’s Asian Cup, according to Dawn and BBC.

Concerns about the players' safety intensified when several did not sing the national anthem before a match, prompting Iranian state media to label them as "wartime traitors" after the U.S. and Israel initiated military strikes against Iran, as noted by Reuters and SCMP.

Upon their arrival in Istanbul, the team traveled to Igdir, Turkey, and then made their way to the Iranian border. In front of the media, players were seen chatting and smiling before boarding a bus to cross into Iran. The players' return raises concerns about the pressures they may have faced to withdraw their asylum requests, according to Channel News Asia and Dawn.

The Iranian Football Association confirmed that the players who chose to return would be welcomed back into their homeland, highlighting the emotional context behind their decisions. Meanwhile, two team members remain in Australia pursuing their football careers, as reported by Reuters and SCMP.