{"text":[[{"start":7.65,"text":"The US has relaxed its travel restrictions on Iran’s World Cup football team as the two nations push forward with talks to end their four-month conflict. "}],[{"start":17.15,"text":"The Iranian squad “has been permitted to come into the US two days before” its game against Egypt in Seattle on Friday, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said on Tuesday."}],[{"start":28.7,"text":"“The Iran team will still be required to leave the day the match ends,” the spokesperson added. "}],[{"start":34.1,"text":"Tehran’s football players were only allowed to enter the US within 24 hours of their previous two matches. "}],[{"start":41.550000000000004,"text":"Washington and Tehran are engaged in high-level talks over the future of the war that began when the US and Israel launched strikes against the Islamic republic in late February."}],[{"start":51.300000000000004,"text":"Amir Ghalenoei, Iran’s coach, last week complained about the guidelines around his players’ travel, saying they meant their training time was cut short ahead of their match against Belgium in California. The Iranian football federation said that the country would lodge a complaint with Fifa, the sport’s governing body, over the restrictions."}],[{"start":71.10000000000001,"text":"Ghalenoei told reporters that US authorities had told him the restrictions would be loosened for the team’s third game against Egypt in Seattle on Friday. “But what my problem is, why didn’t they let us come earlier for the first two games as well?”"}],[{"start":85.2,"text":"The tournament has for months been a source of tension in the relationship between the White House and Iran. "}],[{"start":92.15,"text":"US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social in early March: “The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.” "}],[{"start":105.25,"text":"The same month, Iran’s sports minister said the country could not participate in the tournament after the US, which is co-hosting the tournament along with Canada and Mexico, assassinated then-supreme leader Ali Khamenei on February 28."}],[{"start":121.05,"text":"The Iranian squad is being hosted by Mexico at a training base camp in Tijuana, although it had initially planned to stay at a base in Arizona. "}],[{"start":129.55,"text":"DHS said that despite the loosening of travel restrictions, “the overall security measures and protocol are the same”."}],[{"start":136.3,"text":"“We remain committed to providing the safest tournament possible for players, staff and fans alike,” its spokesperson said. "}],[{"start":144.35000000000002,"text":"Fifa and the Iranian football team did not immediately respond to a request for comment."}],[{"start":156.4,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1782266822_1178.mp3"}