FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom held a constructive and positive meeting with Iran's FA (FFIRI) President Mehdi Taj on Saturday, he told Reuters , expressing confidence about the country's participation at this year's World Cup.
Iran is scheduled to play all three of their group matches in the United States, but the team's participation in the 11 June to 19 July tournament has been in question since the US and Israel attacked Iran in late February.
"We've had an excellent meeting and constructive meeting together with the Iran FA," Grafstrom said during a visit to Istanbul. "We're working closely together and looking very much forward to welcoming them in the FIFA World Cup."
More questions have arisen after FFIRI's Taj was refused entry to Canada for the FIFA Congress in Vancouver earlier this month because of his links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The US and Canada, which are co-hosting the World Cup with Mexico, classify the IRGC as a "terrorist entity" and have made it clear they will not admit people with links to the elite military force.
Grafstrom declined to provide details on the visa situation for Iran's players, but said the two sides had the opportunity to discuss some of the operational matters and had a positive exchange.
Taj told Reuters that FFIRI had a very good meeting with Grafstrom and other FIFA officials.
"I am pleased that they listened to Iran's points, all 10 points that we had raised, and they offered solutions for each of them. I hope, God willing, that our national team can go to the World Cup without any problems and achieve very good results there," he said.
Asked if FIFA had secured assurances on entry and visa arrangements for Iran's players, Grafstrom declined to elaborate.
"We've discussed all relevant matters, but I think it's not the place to discuss the details," he said. "Overall, a very positive meeting and we're looking forward to continuing the dialogue."
Iran had asked for their World Cup matches to be moved to Mexico, but FIFA President Gianni Infantino insists that all games must be played at the originally scheduled grounds.
Iran's squad will leave Tehran for a training camp in Turkey on Monday before moving on to their US base at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, in early June.
Team Melli will be returning to Antalya, where they trained and played friendlies in March.
They are taking a squad of 30 players, which will have to be trimmed to the World Cup maximum of 26. Perhaps the best known is 33-year-old former Porto striker Mehdi Taremi, now with Olympiacos.
"Selecting 30 players for this final training camp ahead of the World Cup was the most difficult technical decision of my coaching career," Ghalenoei told the Iranian football federation website, adding he had selected players solely on "technical criteria".
Iran hopes to play two friendlies in Antalya . They have already confirmed one match, against Gambia, on 29 May, said Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who heads a company that sets up friendlies for the team.
Taj said players were expected to undergo fingerprinting in Turkey as part of the visa process, but wished to avoid a trip of more than 450 kilometres (280 miles) from Antalya to Ankara.
Iran is scheduled to get their World Cup campaign underway against New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June. They are also due to play Belgium and Egypt in Group G.