Footballer pays best hotel fees to shelter Iranians as Israel conflict rages on
An international footballer has vowed to pay for shelter for Iranians fleeing major cities as the country's conflict with Israel escalates.
Israel began targeting Iran's nuclear and military sites last week, with Iran responding by firing missiles of its own. Israel and US President Donald Trump have since urged Iranians to evacuate the country's biggest cities, especially the capital, Tehran.
However, that is easier said than done for Iranians who do not have second homes in less-populated parts of the country. That has led to Iran international and former Bayer Leverkusen forward Sardar Azmoun stepping forward to offer a month's free accommodation to evacuees.
Azmoun, 30, who is the highest-paid Iranian footballer and was once linked to Liverpool, took to Instagram to make his generous offer. He wrote: "I hope that we may return to brighter and more peaceful days, my proud and dear people.
"In these sensitive times, I tried to arrange a space for the temporary housing of families in Gonbad-e-Kavus, which I have now been able to do.
"First priority is for families with infants, children and the elderly. If you are from anywhere in Iran, especially Tehran, Tabriz, Kermanshah, Esfahan or Shiraz, I will arrange one-month free stay in the best hotel in Gonbad-e-Kavus."
Gonbad-e-Kavus, in northern Iran, has a population of around 150,000. Hotels in this region are relatively inexpensive, with the cheapest rates starting from around £5 per night.
On Thursday, Israel carried out strikes on Iran's Arak heavy water reactor, in its latest attack on the country's nuclear programme. It's the seventh day of a conflict that began with a surprise wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting military sites, senior officers and nuclear scientists.
A Washington-based Iranian human rights group said at least 639 people, including 263 civilians, have been killed in Iran and more than 1,300 wounded. In retaliation, Iran has fired some 400 missiles and hundreds of drones, killing at least 24 people in Israel and wounding hundreds.
Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, will travel to Geneva for the meetings on Friday to meet counterparts from Germany, France and the UK. European diplomats, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the meetings.
"All sides must show restraint, refrain from taking steps which lead to further escalation in the region, and return to diplomacy," a joint statement issued on Wednesday by France, Germany, the UK and the EU read.
Azmoun, meanwhile, used to play his club football in Russia until 2022, when he joined Leverkusen before a loan spell at Roma. He now plays for Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE Pro League and is reportedly earning a yearly salary of £3million.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Chronicle
6 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Trump says Zelensky can stop war with Russia ‘almost immediately' ahead of talks
The US president suggested Mr Zelensky would have to accept there was 'no getting back' Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, and Ukraine would not be allowed to join the Nato alliance. Sir Keir and other European leaders will seek to persuade Mr Trump not to push for a settlement which rewards Vladimir Putin's aggression and to get US security guarantees for any military peacekeeping force from the so-called 'coalition of the willing'. Those joining Sir Keir include France's Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Friedrich Merz, Italy's Giorgia Meloni and Alexander Stubb, president of Finland. Nato chief Mark Rutte and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen are also attending. In a message on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said President Zelensky 'can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight'. He said there would be 'no going into Nato by Ukraine' – keeping its neighbour out of the alliance and its mutual defence pact has been one of Russia's key aims. I'm on my way to Washington D.C. to meet @POTUS, @ZelenskyyUa and other leaders. Here's why: — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) August 18, 2025 But Sir Keir, along with other Nato leaders, has said Ukraine is on an 'irreversible path' to membership of the alliance. Government minister Stephen Kinnock said the 'pathway for Ukraine to Nato' could not be dictated by any other country. The health minister told Times Radio: 'Any decisions taken about Ukrainian territory must be taken with the agreement of the Ukrainian government and President Zelensky. 'The other is that the pathway for Ukraine to Nato and to security guarantees cannot be dictated to them by any other country, and the other is to send a very clear message that we the British people stand firmly shoulder-to-shoulder with the Ukrainian people as we showed when we opened our homes and our hearts to the Ukrainian refugees.' — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 18, 2025 Mr Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff has suggested that measures similar to Nato's Article 5 mutual defence provision could be offered by the US without Kyiv joining the alliance. Mr Witkoff, who took part in the talks between Mr Trump and Russian president Mr Putin last week, said it 'was the first time we had ever heard the Russians agree to that' and called it 'game-changing'. 'We were able to win the following concession: That the United States could offer Article 5-like protection, which is one of the real reasons why Ukraine wants to be in Nato,' Mr Witkoff told CNN. Mr Zelensky said any peace deal must be lasting 'not like it was years ago, when Ukraine was forced to give up Crimea and part of our East – part of Donbas – and Putin simply used it as a springboard for a new attack'. He said: 'Russia must end this war, which it itself started. And I hope that our joint strength with America, with our European friends, will force Russia into a real peace.' I have already arrived in Washington, tomorrow I am meeting with President Trump. Tomorrow we are also speaking with European leaders. I am grateful to @POTUS for the invitation. We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably. And peace must be lasting. Not… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 18, 2025 At the White House, Mr Zelensky is expecting to face calls from the US president to concede to full Russian control of Donetsk and Luhansk, two mineral-rich regions of Ukraine that are mostly occupied by Vladimir Putin's forces. In exchange for these demands, the Russian president would reportedly withdraw his forces from other areas of Ukraine and accept the Nato-like guarantee designed to prevent him launching further incursions. Ahead of their Oval Office encounter, the allies are likely to be mindful of the previous occasion Mr Zelensky visited Mr Trump in the White House. February's public spat, which saw Vice President JD Vance accuse Mr Zelensky of not being thankful enough to the US, resulted in American aid to Ukraine being temporarily halted. Mr Trump will again host Mr Zelensky in the Oval Office before a separate meeting with the European leaders.
The Independent
6 minutes ago
- The Independent
Starmer says allies must ‘get this right' ahead of crunch Ukraine talks
Sir Keir Starmer has said allies must 'make sure' there is 'fair' and 'just' peace in Ukraine as he travelled to Washington to support Volodymyr Zelensky in crunch talks with Donald Trump. The Prime Minister and other European leaders will seek to persuade the US president not to push for a settlement which rewards Vladimir Putin's aggression, but also secures US security guarantees for any military peacekeeping force from the so-called 'coalition of the willing'. The meeting will come after Donald Trump suggested the Ukrainian president would have to accept there was 'no getting back' Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, and that Ukraine would not be allowed to join the Nato alliance. In a video posted on X, Sir Keir said of the conflict: 'Everybody wants it to end, not least the Ukrainians. 'But we've got to get this right. We've got to make sure there is peace, that it is is lasting peace and that it is fair and that it is just. 'That's why I'm travelling to Washington with other European leaders to discuss this face to face with President Trump and President Zelensky, because it's in everyone's interests, it's in the UK's interests that we get this right.' The Prime Minister will be joined by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italy's leader Giorgia Meloni and Alexander Stubb, the president of Finland. Nato chief Mark Rutte and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen are also attending. In a message on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said President Zelensky 'can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight'. He said there would be 'no going into Nato by Ukraine' – keeping its neighbour out of the alliance and its mutual defence pact has been one of Russia's key aims. But Sir Keir, along with other Nato leaders, has said Ukraine is on an 'irreversible path' to membership of the security alliance. 'Russia cannot have a veto against Ukraine's pathway to the EU or Nato,' the Prime Minister's official spokesman said on Monday. Asked if Mr Trump could have a veto, the spokesman repeated that 'our position on Ukraine and Nato hasn't changed' and that Ukraine is on 'irreversible path' to membership. He said No 10 is working 'hand in glove' with Mr Trump on Ukraine, when asked if Sir Keir was confident the US leader would not try to veto membership. The security guarantees the US has signalled it is willing to provide will be an 'important aspect of the discussions' at the White House today, he said. Mr Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff has suggested that measures similar to Nato's Article 5 mutual defence provision could be offered by the US without Kyiv joining the alliance. Mr Witkoff, who took part in the talks between Mr Trump and Russian president Mr Putin last week, said it 'was the first time we had ever heard the Russians agree to that' and called it 'game-changing'. 'We were able to win the following concession: That the United States could offer Article 5-like protection, which is one of the real reasons why Ukraine wants to be in Nato,' Mr Witkoff told CNN. Mr Zelensky said any peace deal must be lasting 'not like it was years ago, when Ukraine was forced to give up Crimea and part of our East – part of Donbas – and Putin simply used it as a springboard for a new attack'. He said: 'Russia must end this war, which it itself started. And I hope that our joint strength with America, with our European friends, will force Russia into a real peace.' Mr Trump has appeared to drop his calls for a ceasefire after a summit in Alaska with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Mr Putin has long refused to agree to a ceasefire as a precondition for talks to end the war, prompting fears that Russia could continue gaining ground in Ukraine as negotiations take place. No 10 appeared to suggest that Sir Keir could back a peace deal without a ceasefire. 'We want to see an end to the killing. If you can bring about an end to the killing and bring about a sustained peace in one go, then all the better,' his spokesman said. But Ukraine must determine whether it wants to cede land to secure a deal, he said, stressing that 'international borders must not be changed by force'. At the White House, Mr Zelensky is expecting to face calls from the US president to concede to full Russian control of Donetsk and Luhansk, two mineral-rich regions of Ukraine that are mostly occupied by Vladimir Putin's forces. In exchange for these demands, the Russian president would reportedly withdraw his forces from other areas of Ukraine and accept the Nato-like guarantee designed to prevent him launching further incursions. Ahead of their Oval Office encounter, the allies are likely to be mindful of the previous occasion Mr Zelensky visited Mr Trump in the White House. February's public spat, which saw US vice-president JD Vance accuse Mr Zelensky of not being thankful enough to the US, resulted in American aid to Ukraine being temporarily halted. Mr Trump will again host Mr Zelensky in the Oval Office before a separate meeting with the European leaders. Russia continued to carry out 'demonstrative and cynical' strikes ahead of the meeting, the Ukrainian leader said. Mr Zelensky posted on X: 'Putin will commit demonstrative killings to maintain pressure on Ukraine and Europe, as well as to humiliate diplomatic efforts. 'That is precisely why we are seeking assistance to put an end to the killings. That is why reliable security guarantees are required. That is why Russia should not be rewarded for its participation in this war.'
Daily Mirror
7 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Man arrested over alleged Antoine Semenyo racist abuse banned from every football stadium
Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo was the target of alleged racist abuse during the Cherries' opening day defeat to Liverpool at Anfield and a fresh development has now been confirmed The man accused of racially abusing Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo at Anfield has been banned from EVERY football stadium. The Cherries forward was at the heart of a shocking incident on the opening day of the season. Bournemouth's match with Liverpool was briefly halted in the 29th minute of the game after Semenyo reported the incident to the referee. A 47-year-old was arrested on Saturday and Merseyside Police have confirmed that the individual has been bailed and banned from all UK football arenas while an investigation remains ongoing. A statement on Monday read: 'We can confirm that a man has been conditionally bailed after he was arrested following reports that racist abuse was directed towards Bournemouth player Antoine Semenyo. 'A 47-year-old man from Liverpool was arrested on Saturday 16 August on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence. He has now been bailed with conditions, which includes not to attend any regulated football match in the UK and not to go within one mile of a designated football stadium. 'An investigation into the incident, which occurred during a Premier League match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield on Friday 15 August, remains ongoing and we continue to work closely with the club.' Semenyo, who scored two goals to haul Bournemouth level before Liverpool secured victory with two late strikes, penned a passionate statement after the incident. He said: "Last night at Anfield will stay with me forever - not because of one person's words, but because of how the entire football family stood together. "To my @afcb team-mates who supported me in that moment, to the @liverpoolfc players and fans who showed their true character, to the @premierleague officials who handled it professionally - thank you. Football showed its best side when it mattered most. "Scoring those two goals felt like speaking the only language that truly matters on the pitch. This is why I play - for moments like these, for my team-mates, for everyone who believes in what this beautiful game can be. "The overwhelming messages of support from across the football world remind me why I love this sport. We keep moving forward, together." Semenyo and Bournemouth will be back in action this weekend as they take on Wolves at the Vitality Stadium. Meanwhile. Liverpool's next game sees them take on Newcastle at St James' Park.
