Tasnim - Iranian national football team captain Javad Nekounam has confirmed his retirement from international football on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old veteran midfielder won 151 caps in an international career that took him to two World Cups in 2006 and 2014.

He had said he has no plan to retire ahead of the friendly match against Sweden.

Nekounam made his debut for Team Melli in a friendly match against Ecuador in 2000 at the age of 19 years and 31 days.

He scored the first goal in Iran's 2-0 win over Chile on March 26 and also converted his penalty in Iran's 3-1 defeat to Sweden on Tuesday.