Former Tennis Player Mansour Bahrami Gives His Bold Take on US-Israel Attack on Iran: “War is a Necessary Evil”

Mansour Bahrami left Iran and relocated to France following the Islamic Revolution.

Former Tennis Player Mansour Bahrami Gives His Bold Take on US-Israel Attack on Iran: “War is a Necessary Evil”

Mansour Bahrami (Image via X/Wimbledon)

In Short
  • The US and Israel conducted a military operation against Iran, resulting in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
  • Mansour Bahrami expressed that while war is undesirable, it may be necessary for the liberation of the Iranian people.
  • Daniil Medvedev is currently stranded in Dubai due to the closure of airspace following the attack.

The US and Israel launched an attack on Iran on Saturday, and during the operation, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who had ruled since 1989, was killed. This happened just a couple of days after the talks between the USA and Iran about the latter’s nuclear programme.

US President Donald Trump described the attack as “major combat operations” and also accused Iran of waging an “unending campaign of bloodshet and mass murder targeting the United States“. As Iran did not renounce its nuclear programme, Trump claimed Iran, through its long-range missiles, could threaten the West, including America.

Iran also launched a counterattack at the US and Israeli bases in the Middle East. Amidst the unrest, Iranian-French former ATP player Mansour Bahrami has given his verdict on the war. He said during his interview with L’Equipe:

War is never good, but I hope it’s a necessary evil. Everything that can help liberate the Iranian people is welcome. It’s unfortunate, but there is no other way. Every time the Iranians rise up, every time they demand a little freedom, all they face is machine guns.

Bahrami was born in Iran in 1956 but left the country following the Islamic Revolution in the late 1970s. He relocated to France, where, as a political refugee, he lived in constant fear of the police after the expiration of his visa.

It was February 7, 2020, and I returned to France the day before COVID. Since then, I haven’t gone back, unfortunately. Because at some point, if I went back there, I could have been in trouble. During the ‘Women, Lives, Freedoms’ movement, I spoke out in the media and on social networks. I was told I had to keep quiet, otherwise there would be consequences. I kept quiet for a while, but I miss my family, I miss Iran. I used to go every two years, just for three or four days each time to see my family, and now it’s been six years since I last went back. Because if I go back, I could be arrested.

Mansour Bahrami added

Although Bahrami never won a singles tour-level title, he won two career doubles titles and reached the No.31 ranking in the latter category. Bahrami is also a Grand Slam doubles runner-up, along with Eric Winogradsky, losing to the pair of Jim Grabb and Patrick McEnroe at the 1989 French Open.

Daniil Medvedev is stuck in Dubai following the US-Israel attack on Iran

Because of the chaos in the Middle East, several tennis players are stranded in Dubai, where the Dubai Tennis Championships, an ATP 500 event, was concluded on Saturday (February 28). The reigning champion, Daniil Medvedev, is also stuck.

Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev (Image via X/Daniil Medvedev)

The airspace is closed. No one knows when we’ll be able to take off. It’s not clear whether it will last long or not. We’re just waiting.

Daniil Medvedev said (via Bolshe!)

Medvedev received a walkover from Tallon Griekspoor in the final. He won the Dubai title for the second time in his career following his successful run in 2023 (defeated Andrey Rublev), which ended his streak of winning every title in different cities.

This was Medvedev’s second successful run this season, as prior to Dubai, the former World No.1 also clinched the Brisbane International by defeating Brandon Nakashima. Also, this is the first time that Medvedev lifted a title above the ATP 250 level since the 2023 Italian Open.

He will next be competing at the Indian Wells Masters, the main draw of which starts on March 4. Medvedev has so far made two finals (2023 and 2024), losing both to Carlos Alcaraz.

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