Iran's first-choice goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand has formally requested a medical review of his conscription file in a bid to defer his mandatory military service. Beiranvand is citing his hand tattoos and a ligament injury in his wrist, seeking evaluation by the Conscription Medical Commission.

This move comes after the Commander-in-Chief of Iran's Law Enforcement Forces stated that the national team player would be officially considered a soldier as of September 2025. He emphasised that Beiranvand does not qualify for special 'Hero Soldier' exemptions and must serve like any other citizen. Under current regulations, to continue his professional career during service, he would need to transfer to a military-affiliated club, with Fajr Sepasi Shiraz designated as his primary destination.

Academic Route Closed

Previous attempts by Beiranvand to defer conscription through academic enrolment have reached a dead end. In May 2025, he claimed to be a PhD student in Sports Physiology at the Islamic Azad University of Khorramabad. The university's Director General of Public Relations refuted this. He said the Khorramabad branch offered no doctoral programs in physical education or physiology.

Following this, Beiranvand walked back his claim, stating he had merely sat for the 2025 PhD entrance exam and mistakenly referred to taking the test as being enrolled. The Deputy Head of the Conscription Organisation announced in November 2025 that Beiranvand had exhausted all permitted academic deferment periods and was granted only a one-year window to complete his master's degree, which expires at the end of September 2026.

Details of the Medical Request

Reports indicate Beiranvand has asked for his file to be reviewed by the Conscription Medical Commission during a session scheduled for October 8. He has requested an evaluation by a specialised psychiatric commission based on his hand tattoos. Iran's 2014 Medical Examination and Exemption Regulations do not list tattoos among exemptible medical conditions. The former head of the Conscription Organisation explicitly stated in December 2023 that the mere presence of a tattoo is not grounds for exemption.

However, if military physicians determine a tattoo indicates an underlying psychological disorder, the file could be reviewed under psychiatric criteria. Permanent exemptions in the psychiatric section are limited to conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder type I, major depressive disorder, severe personality disorders, and severe treatment-resistant anxiety. Beiranvand has also cited a severe ligament injury in his hand and is scheduled to undergo an MRI on October 6 to present official diagnostic imaging.

Impact on Team Melli and Future

These developments unfold as Team Melli sits third in their World Cup group with 3 points from 3 games. The team is unbeaten in its last five matches. Iran's next fixture is an away match against Uzbekistan.

Should he not receive an exemption, Beiranvand could significantly reduce his service length through standard deductions for being married and having two children. One suggested scenario speculates his military obligations might be completed by the end of the current Persian Gulf Pro League season. The CEO of Fajr Sepasi confirmed the club had been notified by the General Staff of the Armed Forces that Beiranvand is an active conscript. With the transfer window closed, he would be unable to play for the club until the mid-season transfer period. Beiranvand hopes delaying his draft notice will grant him more time to play for Tractor SC and maintain his hopes of competing in the Asian Cup, where an Iranian title could make him eligible for exemption regulations granted to national sports champions.

The original report is at iranwire.com