[83174] Mehdi Taremi in a verbal confrontation with an ESPN interviewer regarding security in the US

Taremi challenges the American interviewer on the issue of personal security

During an interview for the American television network ESPN, Iranian football star Mehdi Taremi engaged in a tense exchange with the interviewer regarding the issue of the personal security of foreign players in the United States. According to the Persian fan channel Sorkh1967, Taremi chose to direct a counter-question to the interviewer, wondering if he could be assured of his personal safety in the country.

During the dialogue, as also reported on the Tabriz_khabarlary channel, Taremi put the interviewer in an uncomfortable position when he asked him: "Okay! Are you sure we are safe there?". The American interviewer, in response, mentioned the statements of Donald Trump, who noted in the past that he could not absolutely guarantee the safety of foreign players in the country.

Taremi highlighted the gap between their perception as athletes and the political use made of their visit, clarifying: "We are athletes. Trump should see things like this. We are just athletes." The reporting channels, identified with Iranian sports culture and displaying a sympathetic line toward the player, emphasized the challenge posed by Taremi as an expression of standing firm against bias in the Western media.