Footballer pays ‘best hotel fees’ to shelter Iranians from bombs as Israel conflict escalates

Former Roma and Bayer Leverkusen star Sardar Azmoun has stepped forward to help fellow Iranians who have been urged to evacuate the country’s major cities amid the conflict with Israel

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.