Iran war forces World Climbing (IFSC) to cancel in-person general assembly in Saudi Arabia

World Climbing (IFSC) has cancelled its 2026 general assembly in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and shifted to an online meeting as a result of the Iran war. 

“The decision was taken after consultation with the Saudi Climbing and Hiking Federation (SCHF) and careful consideration of the current situation in West Asia,” reads a statement from World Climbing on March 4. “The safety and wellbeing of National Federations and their representatives remain the organisation’s top priority.”

As a result, the general assembly will take place via a virtual meeting on April 23. 

The agenda will be pared down as well. According to the statement, statutory items requiring reporting and approval will be prioritized. On the other hand, general discussions will be postponed to the Climbing Summit in December 2026.

The next in-person general assembly in Riyadh has been deferred until April 2027, though a solid date has yet to be determined.

Arab News, an English-language daily newspaper in Saudi Arabia, reported Iranian drone attacks have been intercepted east of Riyadh, while Al Jazeera recently reported casualties in Saudi Arabia resulting from the conflict. 

On top of that, the US government has ordered its staff to leave the country, according to CNBC.

The Iran war started in Feb. 28, following joint US-Israel attacks on the country.

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