‘He’s on it!’ Donald Trump backs Anthony Albanese on Iranian soccer team after warning girls will be killed 

Donald Trump, who has deported Iranians during the regime’s crackdown on protestors, promised to offer asylum to the Iranian women’s soccer team, currently in Australia, if Prime Minister Anthony Albanese did not act.

The Presidential middle-of-the-night post issued on social media just after 1 am Sydney time was backed by a phone call.

The conversation between Mr Trump and Mr Albanese led to a backdown from the US President.

Mr Trump said: “Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iranian Women’s National Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed.”

“Don’t do it, Mr Prime Minister, give ASYLUM. The US will take them if you won’t.”

The President’s post did not reflect that at least five of the girls were under Australian protection — a development which occurred late on Monday evening.

Just a day after some of the Lionesses squad, in Australia to play in the Women’s Asian Cup, were spotted signalling “SOS” hand signals from the team bus on the Gold Coast, community sources said at least five of the tourists sought safety with the support of the Australian government.

Grave fears are held for the women if they were to return to Iran after they mounted a public on-field protest against their oppressive regime before their first game of the Asian Cup.

A broadcaster working for Iranian state TV last week branded the team “wartime traitors” for not singing the national anthem ahead of their first game of the Asian Cup.

They sang and saluted for the next two matches.

Mr Trump called Mr Albanese and less than two hours later Mr Trump posted an update saying that Mr Albanese was “on it.”

“I just spoke to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, of Australia, concerning the Iranian National Women’s Soccer Team. He’s on it!” President Trump said in a post just before 4 am Canberra-time.

“Five have already been taken care of, and the rest are on their way. Some, however, feel they must go back because they are worried about the safety of their families, including threats to those family members if they don’t return.

“In any event, the Prime Minister is doing a very good job having to do with this rather delicate situation. God bless Australia!”

It is not clear who informed Mr Trump about the team’s case but prominent right-wing commentators and Fox News identities have advocated for the women. The President’s offer to take in the girls is at odds with his Administration’s policy of deporting Iranians this year, including during the crackdown on protestors in Tehran.

The influential Scottish feminist and author of Harry Potter JK Rowling has also intervened writing on X: “Please, protect these young women.”

Reza Pahlavi, the son of the former Iranian Shah who lives in exile in Washington DC and wants to return to his homeland as ruler had also called on the government to grant the national team to safety and support.

He praised President Trump’s advocacy and said that the five team members who escaped the team, Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh, and Mona Hamoudi were backing his cause.

“These five courageous athletes, currently in a safe location, have announced that they have joined Iran’s national Lion and Sun Revolution,” he said.

Prominent Jewish federal Liberal MP Julian Leeser said there was more that the government could do.

“The Government should immediately revoke the visas of any accompanying security personnel involved in threats or intimidation against these brave women, and put them in immigration detention now,” he said.

“Every member of the Iranian Women’s Football Team should have an opportunity to speak individually with an Australian Border Force agent or other government official, and to seek asylum if they want it.

“Subject to all the normal security checks, we should offer the women of the Iranian team an alternative to returning to Iran.

“Australians from all walks of life stand with these brave women. It’s time our government did so too.”

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke was in Brisbane and will address the media on Tuesday morning at 8 o’clock Queensland time.

Iranian-Australian Shahrzad Shirkhanzadeh told The Nightly on Monday night that some players had been “moved somewhere safe” but Australian government officials were yet to confirm details of the escape mission.

“It’s only five girls so far, and the rest are still with the team,” she told The Nightly.

“Apparently, the (Iranian) officials took them to lobby and they were counting how many players are left, and they’re looking for those five girls.

“I’m not sure whether the girls (escaped) but the only thing I know is that they were in touch with the government, and they protected them.

“I’m really grateful for the way that Australian Government been responsive to the matter as quickly as possible, because it’s been only a few days that we tried so hard in the media on everything just try to raise their voice and be their voice. And that really means a lot, I’m sure, for the girls as well.”