One of the outreach programs that the Obama administration had hoped would symbolize a new beginning in American-Iranian relations was the planned trip of the American women's badminton team to an international tournament to be held in Iran starting this week. Just as Ping Pong symbolized the American opening to China back in the '70s, perhaps Badminton could have played a similar role with Iran.
Unfortunately, the Iranians have rejected the Visa applications for the team. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi told reporters: "The issuing of visa is a time-consuming procedure and this long period made it impossible for them to receive visas. Therefore they will not participate in the competition."
Maybe the Americans were slow getting their paperwork in; or maybe this is another Iranian message to Obama.
I wonder how the American women would have been expected to dress?
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