Tehran, Iran - Iranian representatives have assured the National Olympic Committee (NOC) and the International Federation of Sports Climbing (IFSC) that Iranian climber Elnaz Rekai will face "no consequences" after competing without a hijab, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Wednesday after a meeting with Iran's National Olympic Committee.

The assurances came after Iranian news agency Tasnim reported that Rekabi had returned to Iran on Wednesday morning. The NOC confirmed Rekabi was staying with her family in Tehran, after having received a warm welcome from local supporters who cheered her actions at the airport.

The NOC said the climber would be allowed to continue training and competing.

Rekabi caused a stir after competing in Sunday's final of the Asian Championships in Seoul without the required head covering. Islamic dress is compulsory for female athletes in the Iranian national team.

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Afterwards, she suddenly disappeared, reappearing only to issue an apology seen by many as forced, raising grave concerns for her safety.

Rekabi's team left the hotel on Monday morning, according to reports. It remains unclear what happened to her during this time.

The climber's passport and mobile phone were reportedly confiscated, and there was also talk of her being arrested. The Iranian embassy in Seoul denied such reports.

Farsi-language media also reported that Rekabi's brother had been arrested.

According to Tasnim, seen as a mouthpiece for the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Rekabi apologized for not wearing a headscarf. It was "unintentional," she said. According to the report, she also apologized for the concerns her actions had caused.

Observers interpret the apology, which had also been posted on Instagram under her name, as a coerced statement given that Iranian authorities are known for their ability to exert pressure.

Rekabi's action in Seoul came amid ongoing anti-government protests in Iran sparked by the death of a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini, in mid-September. She was in police custody for allegedly breaking dress code rules. Rekabi's action was seen by many as one of solidarity with Iranian women.

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Since the nationwide protests broke out, several leading athletes have criticized the Islamic Republic for suppressing women's protests and proclaimed their support for the demonstrators.

The government in Iran has responded to the protests with a violent crackdown that has been widely criticized abroad.

The Iranian authorities have also largely shut down internet access, and several popular apps such as Instagram and Whatsapp have also been blocked, prompting growing numbers of Iranians to seek ways to evade the blackout such as VPN connections, for which demand has increased by 3,000% according to reports.

On Wednesday, Iran's Communications Minister Issa Sarepur issued a warning to people not to use them.

The minister said in a television report that the protected VPN connections were harmful to computers and mobile phones, without giving any further explanation. He described their sale as illegal, even if it was not currently criminalized.