Iran's government announced plans on Sunday to confiscate property belonging to Iranian citizens living abroad who support attacks on the country, in a measure that reveals the regime's growing anxiety about internal dissent and diaspora opposition.
The decree, reported by Reuters, would target assets within Iran owned by expatriates who publicly endorse or materially support military action against the Islamic Republic. The legal mechanism for enforcement remains unclear, but the announcement signals Tehran's concern about the political impact of the growing exile community.
Millions of Iranians live abroad, with significant populations in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Persian Gulf states. Many fled after the 1979 Islamic Revolution or left more recently amid economic hardship and political repression. The diaspora includes wealthy families who maintain property holdings in Iran while residing overseas.
"This is the regime showing weakness, not strength," said an Iranian human rights activist based in London. "When you resort to threatening people's property because you're afraid of their words, you're acknowledging that you've lost the ideological battle."
The confiscation threat comes as Iran faces its most serious military challenge since the 1980-1988 war with Iraq. US and Israeli strikes have damaged military installations, energy infrastructure, and regime facilities, while the economy reels from oil export disruptions and sanctions.
