Alireza Beiravand, goalkeeper for the Iranian national team, makes a save during a match against Belgium in the World Cup in 21 of June 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Kirby Lee The Iranian government used its national team's match against Belgium in the World Cup to create a metaphor for the war against the United States and to demonstrate strength. ✅ Follow g1's international news channel on WhatsApp FOLLOW the World Cup on ge See the updated World Cup table "This is how we protect our land," stated the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Ghalibaf. Ghalibaf's statement, who has become one of the main negotiators of the peace agreement with the US, referred to a point-blank save by goalkeeper Alireza Beiravand during the 1º half of the match against Belgium (see the post below). With 7 saves, Beiravand's performance ensured a zero-zero draw with the Belgians and Iran's second point in the World Cup. Now on g1 The same play was also used on social media as a war meme.
In a photo from another angle, internet users wrote "Strait of Hormuz" in the space left by the Iranian goalkeeper and defender at the moment between the Belgian striker's shot and Beiravand's save, in allusion to the greater influence gained by the Iranian government over the strait in the Middle East after the conflict against the US. The reference made by Ghalibaf also dialogues with the rhetoric of the Iranian government in the post-war period, claiming that the country emerged victorious from the conflict against the US. Vitelio Brustolin, professor of International Relations at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFF) and a researcher at Harvard, told g1 that he believes Iran did indeed emerge victorious in the preliminary peace agreement signed with the Americans, taking into account the objectives set by Tehran at the beginning of the war. Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Ghalibaf, reacts on social media to Alireza Beiravand's save against Belgium in the World Cup in 21 of June 2026. Rperodução/Mohammad Ghalibaf on X 1º round of talks with Iran was 'ery good', says Trump's deputy The US and Iranian presidents signed a preliminary peace agreement last week to end the war in the Middle East.
Now, the two countries are negotiating a final treaty to resolve all issues between them. This Monday (22), US Vice President J.D. Vance stated that the first round of talks with the Iranians was "very good" and created a "good basis for a successful final agreement." Mediators speak of 'encouraging advances' in peace talks between the US and Iran The talks took place in Zurich, Switzerland.
In addition to Vance, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, and the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Ghalibaf, who is also the head of negotiations with the US, participated. "We have laid the foundation. We haven't built the house, but we have established a solid foundation to reach a good result for the American people," Vance declared. Iran, meanwhile, stated that there has been "significant progress" toward ending the fighting in Lebanon and considered the conversation the first real test of the negotiations. But the negotiations also had turbulent moments.
During the negotiations, US President Donald Trump threatened to resume attacks on Iran if Hezbollah, the Lebanese terrorist group, did not stop carrying out attacks in northern Israel. Israeli forces have been conducting heavy and widespread attacks on Lebanon, which have already left 4 thousand dead since the beginning of March, according to local authorities, under the argument of targeting the terrorist group. But the talks in Zurich, which began on Sunday morning and extended until early Monday morning, managed to bypass the tension and progressed.
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