Iran Threatens To Confiscate Property Of Iranians Abroad Who Support US And Israel

On March 9, 2026, Iran’s prosecutor general’s office issued a public warning that Iranians living abroad who 'sympathise, support or cooperate with the American‑Zionist [Israeli] enemy' could face legal penalties, including confiscation of property located inside Iran.

“Australian Associated Press Iranians living abroad could have property confiscated and face other legal penalties if they express support for the US and Israel, the Iranian prosecutor general's office says”

@canberratimes

Multiple outlets reported the prosecutor general’s statement as a direct threat of asset seizures for expatriates deemed to be aiding or celebrating what Tehran describes as an American‑Israeli attack, and cited state media as the source of the announcement.

@canberratimes

The warning followed reports of U.S.-Israeli strikes beginning Feb. 28 that state-linked sources said killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the rapid naming of Mojtaba Khamenei as his successor.

Several outlets linked the confiscation threat to diaspora celebrations and online posts that appeared to mark the reported death.

AL-Monitor

Media accounts note that newly created Telegram channels circulated lists and personal details of expatriates who celebrated or criticized the regime.

Iranian authorities framed the confiscation measure as a response to those public actions.

Iranian officials anchored the threat to domestic legislation that broadly criminalises cooperation with hostile actors.

“DUBAI — Iranians living abroad could have property confiscated and face other legal penalties if they express support for the US and Israel, the Iranian prosecutor general's office said on Monday (March 9)”

AsiaOne

Reporting indicates the prosecutor's statement invoked laws used to punish espionage and collaboration with the enemy, presenting confiscation as a legal penalty available under those statutes.

Outlets described the cited legal basis as intentionally wide, extending beyond traditional espionage to cover various forms of support for adversaries.

State statements framed the confiscations as deterrence against foreign-linked operations.

The announcement alarmed diaspora Iranians and rights groups and highlighted divisions within the expatriate population.

Several outlets noted fears of arbitrary confiscation and political repression among critics of the clerical state, while reporting also indicated that at least some expatriates said they would not be deterred.

Devdiscourse

Media coverage emphasised the scale of Iran’s diaspora — government figures cited in multiple reports put the number of Iranians abroad at up to 5 million, with other outlets noting estimates as high as 10 million — underscoring the potentially wide reach of Tehran’s warning.

Significant questions remain about how Tehran would implement asset seizures in practice.

“Tehran threatens to confiscate property of Iranians abroad who back attacks on Iran Synopsis Some members of the Iranian diaspora who want political change in Tehran took to the streets of European and American cities to celebrate the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the U”

Economic Times

Reporting repeatedly notes that statements gave no operational details on how properties or accounts would be identified, how enforcement would work, or what legal procedures expatriates could expect.

Haaretz

Several outlets flagged the absence of clear timelines or mechanisms and emphasised the legal and practical ambiguities that make enforcement uncertain.

They also underscored the political message Tehran aimed to send to critics overseas.