Iranian athletes to face Israelis in London games

Iranian athletes will compete against Israelis at the London Olympics, according to the country's mission chief, the Associated Press reports.

Iran has been criticised in the past because some of its athletes withdrew from events against Israelis at the 2004 Athens Games and 2008 Beijing Games.

"We will be truthful to sport," said Bahram Afsharzadeh, who is also the secretary general of the Iranian Olympic committee. Speaking through an interpreter, he also said his team had no plans to boycott events because of the nationality of opponents. "We just follow sportsmanship and play every country," Afsharzadeh said.