Ali Moradi, head of Iran Weightlifting Federation, has invited the USA to compete in the Fajr Cup, a men’s invitation competition, and has also asked them to send a women’s team.

The Americans have accepted on both counts, and will send female lifters, coaches and technical officials.

“We will comply with Iranian cultural issues, and will help with training of female coaches and technical officials,” said Phil Andrews, chief executive officer of USA Weightlifting.

“There may be a friendly women’s international between Iran and the United States. Everything is agreed in principle, and we are working on the details. Despite the political differences between our countries we have always enjoyed a very good relationship with the Iranian Weightlifting Federation,” he added.

“Our involvement was the idea of the IWF. Anything we can do to help, we are more than willing to do so. I take my hat off to Ali Moradi and his team. I know Iran, being a nation of exceptional achievement in the sport, would not want to see their women competing at international level without being confident of their level of achievement, and we are keen to help them in getting to that level,” Andrews said.