Iran men’s national wrestling team claimed the Freestyle Wrestling World Cup for the sixth time in a row Friday in Kermanshah, Iran.

Iranian wrestlers Friday defeated the United States wrestling team 5-3 in the final match.

At 57 kg devision, Hassan Rahimi defeated Anthony Joseph Ramos, 6-0, winning the first victory for Iran. At 61kg, Masoud Mahmoud Esmaeilpour downed Logan Jeffery Steiber with a 6-2 victory. Meisam Abolfazl Nasiri earned Iran's third victory, defeating Frank Aniello Molinaro, 5-4 in the 65kg category.Mostafa Hosseinkhani downed James Green 2-0, at 74kg category.

At 80kg devision, Jordan Burroughs broke the consecutive wins streak of Iran, defeating Peyman YARAHMADI, 3-2, to earn the first victory for USA. Later, Hassan Yazdani Cherati of Iran lost to American wrestler David Taylor 8-4 by a technical fall in the 84kg class. Olympic champion Kyle Kyle Snyder kept the USA hopes alive as beat Amir Mohammadi IRI, 6-0, at 96kg category.

Komeil Ghasemi defeated Nicholas Gwiazdowski at the 125kg match, 5-0, to win the sixth straight world championship for Iran.

Iran defeated Turkey, India and Mongolia in group B over two days to reach the final. The U.S. wrestling team reached the final matches after defeating Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan in group A of the competition.

Azerbaijan finished in the third place after defeating Turkey in the bronze-medal playoff that ended 7-1.

Following their win, hundreds of Kermanshah residents poured into the streets to celebrate the victory.

President Hassan Rouhani congratulated Iran men’s national freestyle wrestling team over its outstanding performance at the 2017 Freestyle World Cup.</s>The applause began as Team USA walked into the crowded stadium here at the Freestyle World Cup Wrestling championships in Kermanshah, Iran. The Iranians in the crowd whooped, cheered, and began chanting the name of Jordan Burroughs, the best known athlete here.

What made this warm welcome even more extraordinary was that a week before it had looked extremely unlikely that the Americans would even be allowed to compete in the games.

When President Trump issued a visa ban for citizens of 7 majority Muslim countries, including Iran on Jan. 27, the authorities in the Islamic Republic vowed reciprocation. With just weeks to go before the championships began, Team USA prepared for the possibility that they would be unable to attend. “We called in all of the athletes and told them that it was unlikely we would be able to go to Iran,” Rich Bender the executive director of USA Wrestling, tells TIME. “They were all disappointed.”

But that all changed drastically when the courts struck down Trump’s visa ban, much to the dismay of the White House. The authorities in Iran, who have long encouraged citizen diplomacy with the U.S., quickly overturned a decision to not grant visas to Team USA. “In respect to the requests by American athletes and people we decided to issue visas for the US team,” said Masoud Soltanifar, Iran’s Sports and Youth Minister.

Now the visit has gone ahead, offering Iranians and Americans a moment of sports diplomacy amid crumbling relations between the leaders of their countries. It’s not the first time freestyle wrestling, a millennia old sport in Iran and part of the national identity, has acted as a way to bring the two countries together. In fact in 1998, wrestlers were the very first U.S. athletic team that travelled to Iran since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, a development so important that they were invited to the White House by then President Bill Clinton when they returned. Since then, the United States and Iran have exchanged wrestling teams 32 times, making the sport a mainstay of people-to-people diplomacy even when the two governments were at an impasse over Iran’s nuclear activities.

So it was again in Kermanshah, as Iranian fans welcomed Team USA — a powerhouse of the sport — with gifts and flowers. The American managers and coaches were given a private tour of the Bostan Arc, an ancient ruin and major tourist attraction here, with a heavy security detail to guarantee their safety. When Burroughs approached the Iranian Sports minister to personally thank him for the visas it led to a few minutes of friendly hand-shaking, with Soltanifar telling the Team USA leader that he was happy to see him in Iran.

“The welcome has been so gracious, it’s great being here,” said Burroughs, who has more Instagram followers from the Iranian capital Tehran than any other city in the world. “The reaction I get from fans here is more than what I get back in the States.”

The warm welcome belies what is a difficult moment for U.S.-Iranian relations. Many thought the historic 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and 6 world powers including the United States would lead to a thawing in the historically frosty relationship. Economic and social contacts were on the rise, the promise of trade between the two countries was solidified by the deal Iran’s national carrier Iran Air signed with Boeing for scores of new planes.

But with the election of Donald Trump as the 45th U.S. President all bets were off. Trump promised on the campaign trail to scrap the nuclear deal, and his administration put Iran “on notice” after the country tested a missile in late January.

Authorities in Iran however hope that as time goes on Trump will develop a mellower approach. “The fact that the international community, even U.S. allies are voicing their concern on Trump’s policies and course of action is very important,” Soltanifar said, adding that “Trump is facing backlash from the whole world, and that’s not sustainable. I am practically certain that he cannot continue his present course.”

For the time being, relations between the United States and the Islamic Republic must be settled in the sporting arena – and so it was that on Friday, Iran defeated Team USA in the final. It already looks as if the U.S. has taken reciprocal measures, of a friendlier sort. Shortly after Team USA received their visas, Iran’s national archery team was issued last-minute permits to attend the Las Vegas World Cup. In sports at least, the two countries can still get along.

Contact us at editors@time.com.</s>The match introductions for USA-Georgia. Iranian crowd chanting Jordan. Incredible stuff. #WorldCup2017 pic.twitter.com/qqev4byPi3 — USA Wrestling (@USAWrestling) February 16, 2017

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There are few competitions that USA Wrestling places a higher priority on than the Freestyle World Cup. For executive director Rich Bender, it is his personal favorite event, in no small part due to the atmosphere in places like Kermanshah, Iran, where this year's iteration is being held on Thursday and Friday.Below are some of our favorite social media posts to give you all an idea of the type of warm reception U.S. wrestlers have been receiving in Iran, even after it appeared they might not be able to wrestle in the event.Logan Stieber after his win over GeorgiaJames Green post GeorgiaJordan Burroughs getting mobbedJayson Ness, Nahshon Garrett, and Rich Perry in the crowd</s>Iran's wrestling team Friday defeated the United States wrestling team to secure the gold medal at the Freestyle World Cup. During the final matches, Iranian wrestlers sealed a 5-3 victory against their American guests in the western Iranian city of Kermanshah.

Start the conversation, or Read more at The Spokesman-Review.</s>KERMANSHAH, IRAN — The Americans almost didn't make the trip. Bickering between the United States and Iran over President Donald Trump's controversial executive order concerning immigrant and refugee travel nearly sank their trip to the highly anticipated World Cup freestyle championship. They were in, out and then in again.

But the U.S. wrestlers finally made it to Kermanshah, Iran, and they reached Friday's gold medal match. This time, as far as the top spot on the podium was concerned, they were out, in and then out again, as their dramatic comeback fell just short. The U.S. squad settled for second place, as the host nation posted a 5-3 victory to claim gold.

The Americans dropped their first four matches of the tournament's final, before Olympic champions Jordan Burroughs and Kyle Snyder helped mount a comeback. The U.S. team trailed 4-3 entering the day's winner-take-all final match, where Nick Gwiazdowski was foiled by Iran's Komeil Ghasemi, 5-0.

Zach Rey, a former wrestling champion at Lehigh University, did not wrestle Friday.

Just reaching Kermanshah felt like an accomplishment of sorts after political posturing jeopardized the trip earlier this month. After Trump issued his order impacting travel from seven predominantly Muslim countries, including Iran, the Americans were initially assured they'd be allowed to enter the country. But the Iranian government reversed course and announced the U.S. team would not receive visas. After a federal judge tapped the brakes on Trump's order, Iran decided to allow the American squad to enter the country after all.

Even without any sort of political backdrop, Friday's was a highly anticipated final. The two nations also squared off in last year's World Cup, where they split four matches but Iran claimed gold with a narrow win on criteria, 17-15.

The Iranians cruised through the early rounds of this year's tournament, decimating the competition. It won 23 of its 24 bouts in the three matches leading into Friday's final. The U.S. squad, meanwhile, advanced to the finals, splitting with Azerbaijan 4-4 on Thursday, winning on criteria, 20-14.

On Friday, the Americans struggled to get on the scoreboard and Iran raced out to a 4-0 lead. Nothing was going right. In the 65-kilogram match, Frank Molinari jumped up 4-0 on Iran's Meisam Nasiri but ultimately lost 5-4. It looked like it was that kind of day.

The Americans trailed after four matches, and Iran needed just one more win to secure gold. But Burroughs outpointed Peyman Yaramadi, 3-2, and then David Taylor scored a second-round pin over Hassan Yazdanicharati to close the overall gap to 4-2. Burroughs and Taylor were the only Americans to go undefeated on the week.

At 97 kilograms, Snyder, the 2016 Olympic champ, topped Amir Mohammadi by a 6-0 count and brought the U.S. team to within just one with just one match remaining.

That brought Gwiazdowski to the mat to face Ghasemi, who won silver at the Rio Olympics last year. The stakes couldn't have been higher: The winner of the tournament's final match would take gold.

Ghasemi's high-crotch takedown allowed him to take a 3-0 lead after the first period. Gwiazdowski was unable to battle back, losing on points.

While the travel drama between the two counties is likely to continue - Trump has promised to issue a revised executive order addressing the matter soon - the World Cup participants hailed the week's tournament as a politics- and drama-free showcase of wrestling at its highest level.

"More than ever before wrestling has proven it is capable of bringing people and nations together," Nenad Lalovic, president of the United World Wrestling, the sport's international governing body, said in a statement Thursday.</s>TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s wrestling team has defeated the United States wrestling team to win gold medal in the Freestyle World Cup.

During the final matches, Iranian wrestlers sealed a 5-3 victory against their American guests. State TV broadcast the matches live.

The U.S. wrestling team reached the final matches after defeating Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan in group A of the competition. Iran defeated Turkey, India and Mongolia in group B during over two days to reach the final.

Earlier in February, Iran reversed its position and allowed U.S. wrestlers to participate in the competition following an earlier U.S. travel ban, now frozen, by President Donald Trump on nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran.

American and Iranian wrestlers have frequently hosted each other in similar competitions.</s>TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s wrestling team Friday defeated the United States wrestling team to secure the gold medal at the Freestyle World Cup.

During the final matches, Iranian wrestlers sealed a 5-3 victory against their American guests in the western Iranian city of Kermanshah. State TV broadcast the matches live.

The Iranians won at the 57, 61, 65, 70 and 125 kilogram divisions, while the American wrestlers won 74, 86 and 97 kilogram divisions.

The U.S. wrestling team reached the final matches after defeating Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan in group A of the competition. Iran defeated Turkey, India and Mongolia in group B over two days to reach the final.

Following their win, hundreds of Kermanshah residents poured into the streets, with drivers honking their cars horns, to celebrate the victory, Iranian media reported.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also issued a statement to offer his congratulations, the official IRNA news agency reported.

During the competitions, Iranian spectators warmly welcomed the American wrestlers, and many took selfies with them.

Earlier in February, Iran reversed its position and allowed U.S. wrestlers to participate in the competition following an earlier U.S. travel ban, now frozen, by President Donald Trump on nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran.

American and Iranian wrestlers have frequently hosted each other in similar competitions.</s>The Iranian national wrestling team has defeated the U.S. squad in the finals of the Freestyle World Cup in Iran, giving the hosts the gold medal in a match that almost did not take place because of global political tensions.

In the tournament finale on February 17, Komeil Ghasemi defeated American Nick Gwiazdowski in the 125-kilo (275-pound) weight class.

Ghasemi's victory gave Iran their fifth title out of the eight weight categories in the tournament -- which took place in Iran's Kurdish-majority city of Kermanshah and was broadcast live on state TV.

This event was overshadowed by political tensions between Tehran and Washington, which have increased since U.S. President Donald Trump took office.

The 13 wrestlers from the U.S. team were initially denied visas to compete after Trump set a temporary ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries, including Iran.

They eventually were allowed entry after Trump's travel ban was put on hold by a U.S. federal court ruling.

American wrestler Jordan Burroughs, a two-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist, wrote on Instagram that he was "thankful for the warm reception" the United States team received in Iran "and even more grateful that this trip was made possible."

The U.S. wrestling team reached the final matches after defeating Russia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan in Group A of the competition.

Iran defeated Turkey, India, and Mongolia in Group B to reach the final.

Based on reporting by AP, The Washington Post, and AFP</s>The Azerbaijan national wrestling team have won a bronze medal at the Freestyle World Cup held in Kermanshah, Iran.

Azerbaijani wrestlers secured the medal thanks to a victory over Turkey 7-1.</s>Feb 17 (Reuters) - Iran defeated the United States to take the gold medal in wrestling's World Cup on Friday, winning a match that politics almost prevented.

Olympic silver medallist Komeil Ghasemi beat American Nick Gwiazdowski 5-0, giving Iran a 5-3 win in the gold medal final. After the match, they politely shook hands in front of a rowdy crowd in the western Iranian city of Kermanshah.

Ghasemi then held an Iranian flag above his head before placing it in the centre of the mat, dropping to his knees and planting his face on the flag.

The two countries have a friendly relationship in wrestling, but that was put to the test in recent weeks. Iran said it would stop American citizens from entering the country, in retaliation for "hostile policies" of the U.S. government.

Those policies were U.S. President Donald Trump's executive orders barring travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran, from entering the United States. But federal courts blocked Trump's ban, allowing Iran to lift its reciprocal ban and the American team to travel to the World Cup.

USA Wrestling sent the first American sports team to compete in Iran in nearly 20 years in 1998, when freestyle wrestlers competed in the Takhti Cup in Tehran.

American wrestlers have competed in Iran for the Takhti Cup nine times, while USA Wrestling said it has hosted teams from Iran in the United States 16 times since the 1990s. (Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto, editing by Larry King)
Iran defeats the United States to take the gold medal in freestyle wrestling's World Cup.