( CNN ) -- When it comes to the sport of wrestling , longtime adversaries Iran and the United States are friendly enemies . Andy Hrovat , right , seen wrestling Reineris Salas of Cuba , is among the U.S. wrestlers touring this winter . A U.S. freestyle men 's wrestling team will go to the Islamic republic -- where the sport is widely popular -- for a prestigious tournament in March . Nine American wrestlers will take 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 . `` 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 . '' 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 . 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 . 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 .
The adversaries Iran and the United States are friendly rivals on the mat . U.S. freestyle men 's wrestling team will participate in Iran tournament . Sport of wrestling is hugely popular in the Islamic republic . U.S. official says of Iran : ` ` They treat our people like animals ''