Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei hails Iran’s U23 Greco-Roman wrestling champions after their triumph on U.S. soil, where three golds and two bronzes secured the world title despite last-minute visa complications; wrestlers dedicate victory to the martyrs of the Minab school tragedy.

TEHRAN -- Iran's under-23 Greco-Roman wrestling team claimed the world championship in Las Vegas with three gold medals and two bronzes, a victory achieved despite Washington's disruptive visa practices that left the Iranian delegation in uncertainty until days before the competition, prompting the Leader of the Islamic Revolution to hail the young wrestlers as the embodiment of the nation's aspirations.

The Iranian team finished atop the standings with 119 points, five ahead of Kazakhstan (114) and well clear of Russia (105), according to United World Wrestling, the sport's governing body.

Erfan Jarkani won gold at 63kg, defeating Japan's Manato Nakamura 2-1 in the final; Abolfazl Mohmedi took gold at 82kg, edging Armenia's Martik Petrosyan 2-1; and Yasin Yazdi secured gold at 87kg with a 4-0 victory over Kazakhstan's Temirlan Turdakyin. Muhammad Kamali (67kg) and Muhammad Hadi Seidi (97kg) claimed bronze medals, with Seidi defeating Kazakhstan's Nurasil Amanali 8-0 in his third-place bout.

The path to the championship was complicated by the host country's visa procedures. The team's participation remained uncertain until days before the competition, with Iranian wrestling officials stating that the delegation would not travel if any wrestler was denied entry.

Visas were eventually issued for the wrestlers and most of the coaching staff. Iranian officials have consistently characterized such delays as part of Washington's disruptive practices and unjust sanctions affecting ordinary citizens, including athletes.

The victory carried particular emotional weight. Head coach Hassan Rangraz said the team had pledged to dedicate the championship to the families of the victims of the Minab school tragedy, referring to students of the Shajareh Tayyebeh school who were martyred in a terrorist American missile attack.

"I have two children, and whenever we go to the Angels' Village in Minab at the wrestling federation and see the photos of the martyred children, I am overwhelmed," Rangraz said upon the team's return through Istanbul.

"I had made a vow that in this month of Mehr, which is the school season, I would dedicate the cup to the families of the Minab martyrs who lost their loved ones and who bear a great loss and grief."

"All we could do as compatriots who consider ourselves servants of the people was to dedicate this championship and this cup to the families whose innocent children were martyred in the imposed war," he said.

Rangraz added that the sweetness of the victory was doubled because it occurred in the United States, saying: "We have nothing to do with the American people, and in some places even the American coaches expressed regret and sorrow."

Gold medalist Jarkani also dedicated his individual medal to the Minab victims.

"Before departing for these competitions, I had made a pact with myself that if I won gold, I would dedicate this valuable title to the pure souls of the oppressed martyrs of the Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab and their patient families," he said.

"The raising of the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the echoing of our national anthem in the heart of America and in such difficult circumstances was an indescribable feeling of pride for me and all the team members. I am happy that we were able to make the dear people of Iran happy."

In a message issued on Saturday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei congratulated the champions, their coaches and the Iranian nation.

"I congratulate these pride-generating champions, their hardworking coaches, and the entire Iranian nation on the championship of Iran's U23 Greco-Roman wrestling team at the U23 World Wrestling Championships in the United States," the Leader said.

"The brilliance of the country's youth, the hoisting of Iran's inspiring flag, and the echoing of the national anthem of the Islamic Republic in various arenas represent the manifestation of the nation's hopes in its youth on the path to realizing a bright and glorious future."

"My prayers accompany all the youth of proud Iran," the Leader said.

The team's triumph was celebrated across Iran's political spectrum. Parliament Speaker Muhammad Baqer Ghalibaf said the young wrestlers forced the American hosts to hear Iran's national anthem repeatedly on their own soil, calling it "a great honor for the Iranian nation and a shining manifestation of the capabilities of this land's youth."

President Masoud Pezeshkian also issued a congratulatory message, saying the victory demonstrated that "no border can prevent the brilliance of a nation that believes in its own capabilities."

Major General Ahmad Vahidi, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, also issued a message congratulating the team, saying: "Islamic Iran is the land that nurtures champions who, in every arena and every field, raise the lofty name of Iran to the peaks of honor."

He said the "authoritative brilliance of the children of this land in the world Greco-Roman wrestling arena on American soil is once again clear proof of the eternal truth" that Iran nurtures such champions.

Vahidi said the championship, achieved with "three gold medals, two bronze medals and 119 points, in a land whose enemies have always sought to diminish the name of Iran and the sacred flag of the Islamic Republic, is a brilliant manifestation of the capability, faith and zeal of the youth of this land."

"The zealous children of Iran stood on the world championship podium with power and merit on American soil and forced the hosts to hear the proud anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran repeatedly on their own soil and to pay homage to the hoisting of our sacred flag."

Vahidi said the scenes demonstrated that "the Iranian youth raises the flag of Iran's authority both on the battlefield and in the sports arena, and wherever there is a field of confrontation, can defend the name, flag and dignity of the homeland with authority."

Rangraz noted that the championship was achieved without several of Iran's top senior-level wrestlers who were eligible for the U23 age category, including Saeed Esmaili, Danial Sohrabi, Alireza Abdoli, Payam Ahmadi and Fardin Hedayati, saying their absence demonstrated the depth of Iran's wrestling talent pool.

He said the team had already shifted focus to the senior world championships in Kazakhstan, where Iran will defend its title.