The IOC called a meeting with the NOCIRI at its headquarters in Lausanne where "intensive discussions" took place about the situation facing Iranian athletes just a month after national karate champion Mohammad Mehdi Karami was among four men executed for their involvement in anti-regime protests.

The NOCIRI also faced questions from the IOC NOC Relations Department over the role it was playing in protecting athletes and about the issue of participation in international sports competitions "without any form of discrimination vis-à-vis any other athletes".

NOCIRI President Mahmoud Khosravi Vafa travelled to the Swiss city where he held talks with Bach.

"The IOC President expressed the grave concerns of the IOC with regard to the humanitarian situation of a number of athletes, and the financial guarantees that athletes and teams have to provide to their National Federations before travelling abroad to participate in international sports competitions," a statement from the IOC read.

"The IOC President stressed the importance of non-discrimination in every aspect and insisted on the full observance of the Olympic Charter by the NOC."

Karami was involved in demonstrations that were sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody after being arrested for "improperly" wearing her hijab.

He was arrested in connection with the alleged murder of a paramilitary force member in Karaj in November and was later charged with a capital offence.

In September 2020, wrestler Navid Afkari was executed, for allegedly stabbing a security guard to death and his involvement in demonstrations against the country's regime in 2018.

At the time of Afkari's death, Bach claimed he was "extremely concerned" by the case but felt the NOCIRI was "doing their utmost to facilitate a solution".

There have also been recent safety concerns over female athletes that chose not to wear a hijab in international competitions.

Chess player Sara Khadem reportedly arrived in Spain after being urged not to return to home after being pictured without the head covering - which is mandatory under Iran’s strict dress code - when she competed in the International Chess Federation World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Kazakh city Almaty.

Sport climber Elnaz Rekabi also competed without a hijab during the Asian Championships in South Korean capital Seoul in November 2022, with reports that she was subsequently placed under house arrest, and her family villa was demolished.

It is understood that the IOC’s concerns over discrimination refer to the Iranian Government telling athletes from the country to refrain from competing against Israeli opponents.

Iran does not recognise Israel and Iranian athletes have frequently withdrawn from competitions to avoid facing competitors from Israel.

The Iran Judo Federation was hit with a four-year ban by the International Judo Federation in April 2021 for "repeated and severe breaches" of the organisation’s statutes and the values of Olympism, after it instructed judoka Saeid Mollaei to avoid facing an opponent from Israel at the 2019 World Championships.

The IOC revealed that Bach had requested a written report from the NOCIRI on all the issues addressed at the meeting in Lausanne and asked for a further document about the status of women in sport in Iran.

After receiving the report, the IOC NOC Relations Department is expected to submit its findings at the next Executive Board meeting, scheduled for March.

"The Iranian NOC made clear commitments to pursue and expand its efforts to safeguard the athletes’ rights, from both a humanitarian and a sporting perspective, and to continue to act in accordance with the Olympic Charter and fully respect the principle of non-discrimination," the statement from the IOC added.