⚽ 🇺🇸 Yesterday's World Cup match between the U.S. and Iran ended in a 1-0 victory for America. As we celebrate this win, we should remember to keep heart with those taking a stand against the Iranian government for basic human rights.

In the lead up to the match, Iran demanded that the U.S. be banned from the tournament after the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) briefly posted on social media the Iranian flag without the Islamic Republic symbol. USSF stated it did so in solidarity with the women of Iran, and all those who have taken to the streets in demonstration over the last few months following the tragic death of Masha Amini at the hands of the Iranian morality police. Since September, over 450 protestors have been killed — many of them minors — and 18,000 arrested.

The Iranian national soccer team also demonstrated solidarity with the protestors by refusing to sing the Iranian national anthem in the home opener, though they (reportedly) were forced to sing the anthem in subsequent games.

Off the field, tensions between the two nations are perhaps higher than they've ever been. Yet, despite the atrocities being perpetrated against women and mounting evidence that Iran is looking to Russia to help bolster its nuclear program, an Iran Nuclear Deal is still on the table. To preserve freedom, it is vital that our government abandon its efforts to restore this feckless paper deal.

And regardless of which team you root for or if you're even a soccer fan, we should all support the thousands of women and men risking their lives in Iran in order to have a chance at freedom. They are willing to die for what we often take for granted here at home.

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