From Shirzad Bozorgmehr and Joe Sterling
CNN

(CNN) - When it comes to the sport of wrestling, longtime adversaries Iran and the United States are friendly enemies.

A U.S. freestyle men's wrestling team is in the Islamic republic - where the sport is widely popular - for a prestigious tournament.

Nine American wrestlers are taking part in the Takhti Cup competition, scheduled for March 12-13, according to state Iranian media and USA Wrestling - the national governing body for Olympics wrestling in the United States.

BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP/Getty Images. An Iranian boy stands between the placards of Iran and United States during the opening ceremony of 29th international 'Takhti Cup' wrestling tournament in Tehran on March 12, 2009. A US wrestling team is competing in two-day the tournament in the Iranian capital. Even though Tehran and Washington have been bitter foes since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, they have at times put aside their differences in the arena of sports.

BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP/Getty Images. Iranian boys hold a placard bearing the US flag to represtent the American team competing in the 29th international 'Takhti Cup' wrestling tournament during the opening ceremony in Tehran on March 12, 2009.

"In Iran, wrestling and soccer are the two major sports," said Gary Abbott, director of communications for USA Wrestling in Colorado Springs, Colorado. "They know their wrestling as well as anyone in the world. They treat our athletes like kings."

BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP/Getty Images. US wrestler Michael Tamillow (red) competes with Iranian Hooman Sheida for the Bronze medal of freestyle 96kg competition during the 29th international 'Takhti Cup' wrestling tournament in Tehran on March 12, 2009. A portrait of Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei hangs in the background.

Relations between the United States and Iran ended after Iranian militants seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and held Americans hostage there for 444 days.

More recently, the two countries have been at odds over Iran's nuclear ambitions and have been sharply critical of each other's policies and actions in the Middle East.

But Abbott said there has been a history of U.S. and Iranian wrestling exchanges despite the politics. Both sides are always looking for opportunities to compete.

BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP/Getty Images. Iranian Mostafa Hossein-Khani (L) wrestles with US Michael Zadik (R) in the 66kg freestyle category at the 29th International Takhti Cup wrestling tournament in Tehran on March 12, 2009.

Abbott said Iran is one of the top wrestling powers in the world, along with countries such as the United States, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. Competing in a wrestling-crazy society like Iran is special to Americans, who look forward to getting on the mats before large crowds in sold-out arenas.

"For the common citizen, an American wrestler in Iran is like Michael Jordan going over there," Abbott said, referring to the world-famous American basketball legend.

USA Wrestling said the trip is one of several overseas events this winter for American wrestlers.

BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP/Getty Images. US wrestler Michael Tamillow (R) warms up with his coach under a portrait of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after losing his first match to Iran's Rasoul Tavakoli in the 96 kg freestyle category at the 29th International Takhti Cup wrestling tournament in Tehran on March 12, 2009.

U.S. teams also will also be competing in Russia, Ukraine, Sweden, Cuba, Bulgaria, Belarus, Turkey, Serbia, Hungary and Slovenia. The team going to Iran includes four men who have represented the United States in the Olympics

Posted by: IME Producer
Filed under: Iran •Pictures •U.S.