Visa Denial Prevents Iran Attending ITU Annual Event In London

Tehran, Sept 15, IRNA – Head of Iran’s Triathlon Federation (ITF) Mohammad Ali Sabour said Sunday that visa denial of British Embassy in Turkey prevented ITF officials from attending the World Triathlon Grand Final which is to start in London on September 15. 8,500 triathletes will be swimming, cycling and running in the British capital, around Hyde Park, Westminster and The City. According to Sabour, he and a representative from New Zealand were supposed to join the ITU committee during the London event but he lost the chance due to the visa denial. Sabour said that the Iranian side had presented its documents to the British embassy in Turkey two weeks ago but failed to gain a visa due to “their noncooperation.” “We have officially expressed our protest over the issue by sending a letter to the ITU, “ he stressed. Tehran-London diplomatic relations have severed since November 2011 following an attack on British embassy in Tehran by angry protesters. The incident was followed by the expulsion of Iranian diplomats from Britain./end