Fear IRGC figures entered Australia with Iranian women’s Asian cup delegation

Security concerns raised after terror listing as officials defend visa screening process Fears have emerged that individuals linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) may have entered Australia as part of the Iranian women’s football team delegation for the 2026 Asian Cup, prompting calls for tighter scrutiny of visa approvals. The concerns were aired before a parliamentary committee, where former detainee and academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert urged authorities to examine whether relatives of sanctioned Iranian regime officials meet Australia’s character requirements for residency

Security concerns raised after terror listing as officials defend visa screening process Fears have emerged that individuals linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) may have entered Australia as part of the Iranian women’s football team delegation for the 2026 Asian Cup, prompting calls for tighter scrutiny of visa approvals. The concerns were aired before a parliamentary committee, where former detainee and academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert urged authorities to examine whether relatives of sanctioned Iranian regime officials meet Australia’s character requirements for residency.

Iranian national team in the 2023 Asian cup

The Iranian women’s national team arrived this week for the tournament and is scheduled to face the Australia women's national soccer team on the Gold Coast next Thursday.

Terror Designation Under Focus

The Albanese government listed the IRGC as a terrorist organisation in November following advice from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), which found the group was responsible for directing attacks on a Melbourne synagogue and a Sydney kosher deli. The move marked the first time in Australian history that a state entity had been formally designated a terror organisation. Iranian-Australian community leaders welcomed the listing but said enforcement must now be robust. Sydney councillor Tina Kordrostami said diaspora communities were aware of individuals aligned with IRGC structures travelling under cultural and sporting delegations. “Many Australians welcome these athletes, and rightly so,” she said. “But accompanying delegations can include individuals understood within diaspora communities to be affiliated with or supportive of IRGC structures.” She described the IRGC as a “hybrid entity” operating across military, intelligence, business and ideological networks, arguing that existing legal frameworks face challenges in addressing such decentralised operations.

Residency Case Raises Questions

Concerns intensified earlier this month after it was revealed that Hanieh Safavi, daughter of sanctioned Iranian Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, had been granted permanent residency in Australia after initially arriving as a student. Safavi previously served as commander-in-chief of the IRGC and has been sanctioned internationally for alleged human rights abuses. Moore-Gilbert questioned whether sufficient scrutiny had been applied under Australia’s character test provisions, including whether financial support linked to sanctioned figures had been considered. “This raises questions around the character test that’s applied to permanent residency,” she told the committee, calling for security agencies to review cases involving close ties to the IRGC. She also urged increased funding for sanctions enforcement and expanded Farsi-language capability within ASIO.

Government Response

Senior Department of Home Affairs official Ciara Spencer said all visa applicants must pass security and character assessments, including intelligence vetting where appropriate. While declining to comment on individual cases, Spencer confirmed that links to the IRGC would be relevant to character considerations and could trigger cancellation powers if concerns were identified. “These requirements apply to anyone travelling to Australia as part of official delegations,” she said.

Balancing Sport and Security

The Iranian women’s team last played in Australia in 2023. Their return comes amid heightened scrutiny of Tehran’s overseas activities following the IRGC’s terror designation.

Australian women national team vs Iranian women national team in 2023 Asian cup

With thousands expected to attend next week’s match, authorities now face the challenge of balancing international sporting engagement with national security safeguards, a test of how Australia enforces its most significant counterterrorism designation in decades.