The response letter was sent to the AFC by the Iran Football Federation (IRIFF)
According to the IRIFF official website,
The AFC had requested the Iran Football Federation in several correspondences to introduce how to select representatives for the AFC Champions League for the next season, Mostafa Zarei, the IRIFF Club Licensing Manager said.
“In the first step, at the end of Farvardin (in April), the IRIFF has informed the AFC how to select the representatives, that the representatives of IRIFF in next year's Champions League will be a combination of last year's champion of the Pro-League (Persian Gulf Cup), the champion of the knockout cup of the year, the champion of the knockout cup and the champion of this year's Pro-league, he also stated that the Iran leagues Competitions will end in the middle of Khordad (in June)” he continued.
“The second correspondence was sent to Iran Football Federation about Iran's representatives for Champions League for next year was a correspondence in which the Iran Football Federation should have announced the clubs that succeeded in obtaining a licence.
The related correspondence on the basis of the decisions made by FIB and AB was sent to the AFC on May 31, 2023 after the result of the final match of knockout cup was determined”, the IRIFF Club Licensing Manager continued.
According to the procedure of the past years, the AFC should have reviewed the decisions made by FIB and AB, and announced the final list of the clubs that received a licence. Based on this final list announced by the AFC, Iran Football Federation introduced the clubs for registration in the Champions League.
“This matter was inquired yesterday, the AFC experts announced due to the change in the timing of the Champions League from winter-autumn to summer-spring that happened this year, this list will be announced in the middle of Tir (in July). For now, clubs can register in the Champions League based on the results of IRIFF Club Licensing Department, and if necessary, the AFC will announce further changes. Accordingly, the documents of all Iranian clubs were sent through the Iran Pro-league Organization and IRIFF International Department”, the IRIFF Club Licensing Manager continued.