Australia bans Iranian tourists with valid visas for six months

Australia has barred Iranian tourists who hold valid visas from entering the country for six months, a decision that drew sharp criticism from human rights advocates and observers. The ban follows a recent decision to grant asylum to Iranian national footballers, creating what critics characterized as a contradictory stance on Iran-related immigration policy. The move effectively revokes entry rights for people with legitimate travel documentation, raising questions about Australia's consistency in handling Iranian nationals. Human rights groups argue the tourist ban represents a "moral failure" that punishes ordinary Iranians while the government simultaneously provides refuge to athletic defectors. The policy signals a hardline shift in Australia's approach to Iranian visitor access amid broader geopolitical tensions in the region.