The much discussed and debated executive order, signed on January 27, prohibited citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries - Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen - from being granted entry to the US for a 90-day period. Due to a Federal Judge in the United States blocking the ban yesterday, which Trump is now set to appeal, Iran have lifted their objections and US wrestlers have been deemed free to compete.

It is the latest in a long line of cases in which politics has directly had an impact on the sporting world.

Clearly, sport is some way down the most pressing concerns regarding this episode in the past week, which appears to have caught the vast majority unaware. However, the case again reflects the important role in which sport can play in bridging divides.

When doors are starting to be closed in the faces of people wishing to enter a country for legitimate means, it is crucial that sport continues to jam its foot in firmly to prevent it shutting altogether.

This was highlighted in the tweet - what else nowadays - of Zarif when he stated "following the court ruling suspending Muslim Ban and the requests from the Iranian Wrestling Federation and FILA [sic, now known as United World Wrestling], US wrestlers' visa will be granted".

It showed the importance of an international federation, in this case United World Wrestling, putting pressure on politicians and ultimately having an impact.

"Despite the travel restrictions between their countries I've been encouraged this week by the cooperation and friendship of the Iranian Wrestling Federation and USA Wrestling," UWW President Nenad Lalovic said earlier this week as the organisation expressed their desire to help resolve the situation.

"As we've seen over the years, wrestling is a sport that unites people and nations. United World Wrestling hosts a full calendar of events every season and we're certain to see American and Iranian wrestlers on the same mat again in the very near future."

The Serbian is of course correct. Wrestling is responsible for one of the rare occasions in which the United States have been brought together with Iran. This came back in 2013, when their wrestlers joined in Tehran to protest about the decision to remove the sport from the Olympic programme. Athletes then competed in the United States to help save the sport’s position - ultimately proving successful.

USA Wrestling said earlier this week that they had a "long tradition of competing with nations which may not have a strong relationship between their Governments". This included sponsoring the first American sports team to compete in Iran after an absence of nearly 20 years back in 1998, with their teams having returned on 15 occasions since.

Indeed, their counterparts the Islamic Republic of Iran Wrestling Federation reportedly proposed the idea of three-nation tournaments, between countries that have historically experienced political tension, as recently as December.

Their suggestion was that Iran, the US and Russia would compete in freestyle competition, with Russia and Turkey joining the Iranians in a Greco-Roman event. A women's tournament would then feature Russia, the US and Japan, with the competitions taking place under the banner of "World Solidarity for Wrestling".

With sport, it is often easy to be consumed by results. A quick glance at the podium positions will be enough for many. The impact competitions can actually have would be considered somewhat of a footnote.

Given the historic political problems, it has always surprised me when both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland compete on an all-Ireland basis in a number of sports. This includes rugby and if you watch the Six Nations, which got underway this weekend, the unity between players and fans is clear.

Just last week, Irish politician Frank Feighan raised the prospect of athletes from Republic of Ireland participating at the Commonwealth Games.

Only Northern Ireland is currently a member of the organisation, but he suggested the possibility could boost relations with a post-Brexit Great Britain.

"We have to extend the hand of friendship to our near neighbours," Feighan was quoted as saying by the Irish Independent. 

"I would like to pose the question that if Ireland did rejoin the Commonwealth, could we not then see the real possibility of an All-Ireland team competing in the Commonwealth Games? 

"Would we not all welcome the concept of Ireland as one hosting the Commonwealth Games, an event which would be of huge benefit to our country?”

While a decision on this issue would come from politicians, it would be an interesting step. At a time where there has been talk over borders between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland as a consequence of Brexit, it could be another case of sport acting as a unifying force.