Inter Milan striker Mehdi Taremi has been left stranded in Iran and will not be able to take part in the Club World Cup in the United States. The 32-year-old forward was unable to leave Tehran over the weekend due to the suspension of flights from Iranian airports following a rise in military activity in the region.
Taremi, a key player for the Iranian national team, was expected to fly to Los Angeles on Saturday to meet up with his Inter Milan teammates ahead of the club’s opening game against Mexican side Monterrey. However, his departure was blocked after air traffic was halted in response to the growing conflict between Iran and Israel.
The situation escalated after a series of recent military exchanges between the two countries, causing Iranian authorities to shut down outgoing flights as a safety measure. Taremi, who had just scored for Iran in a World Cup qualifying match against North Korea in Tehran on Tuesday, now finds himself unable to travel.
Because of the travel restrictions, the striker will not be in the squad for Inter’s first match of the tournament, scheduled for Wednesday. According to reports from Italy, there is little hope that Taremi will be able to join the squad later in the competition, even if the airspace reopens in the coming days.
The delay is a blow for Inter Milan, who had planned to use Taremi as part of their attacking options during the Club World Cup. The club had signed him from FC Porto last year, and he has been viewed as a valuable addition to the team.
