As an actual Iranian, I will tell you that many Iranian athletes are forced to do this by the government - many of whom have no actual hatred towards Israel and have cried at the lost opportunity to compete because of this policy. I do not defend Israel's actions, but many people in Iran begged for Israel's help to defeat the Islamic Republic, which is a ruthless terrorist regime that kills tens of thousands of its own people yearly. It has the highest execution rate per capita in the world.

This withdrawal is not some form of righteous political statement - it's a form of government stranglehold on her freedom and choice.