Inter Milan star stranded in Iran after Israel attacks ahead of Club World Cup opener

Inter Milan striker Medhi Taremi has been left stranded in Iran following attacks from Israel in Tehran.

Taremi, 32, is part of the Inter squad taking part in the Club World Cup in the USA over the next month with their first match taking place on Wednesday against Mexican side Monterrey.

Taremi returned to his homeland to accept Iran’s Footballer of the Year award and was planning to fly straight out to Los Angeles to link up with his teammates.

However, the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel which saw Iranian military and nuclear targets hit with missile attacks has resulted in all flights from Iranian airports grounded.

Inter are in ‘constant contact’ with the striker, Sky Italia report, as they seek to find a solution that will allow him to leave Iran and join up with his teammates.

Iran was targeted with several waves of airstrikes on Thursday and Friday, launching retaliatory attacks on Israel overnight.

More than 78 people have been killed in Iran, including four of its top security chiefs, with 320 wounded, most of them civilians. Three people died in Israel, with dozens more injured in Iranian strikes.

Taremi had also returned to Iran play for the national team in World Cup qualifying matches against Qatar and North Korea, the last of which took place at Teran’s Aazadi Stadium on Tuesday.

Taremi played for Iran in both games against Qatar and North Korea, scoring in the latter.

While not a regular starter, Taremi has been an important member of the Inter squad.

The former Porto star remained on the bench in the brutal Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain but has made 43 appearances in all competitions this season with three goals and nine assists.

Inter will play Monterrey, Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds and Argentine giants River Plate in their Club World Cup group phase, led by recently appointed head coach Christian Chivu.