Tehran warns Iranians abroad supporting US-Israeli strikes: 'Will be met with confiscation of properties'

Iranian residents and sympathisers celebrating in front of Iran's embassy in Portugal, following strikes by the US and Israel against Iran, in Lisbon. (Courtesy: Reuters photo)

Tehran has threatened to confiscate the property of Iranians living abroad if they express support for American or Israeli army amid the war in Iran. It has also warned them of legal penalties 'in accordance with the law'.

"A warning has been issued to those Iranians living abroad who in different ways sympathise, support or cooperate with the American-Zionist (Israeli) enemy," Iran's prosecutor general's office was quoted as saying by state media.

The warning followed marches organised in several European and American cities by some people of Iranian origin seeking political change in Tehran. The marches were organised to celebrate the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes on February 28.

"They will be met with the confiscation of all their properties and other legal penalties in accordance with the law," it added.

The office reportedly referred to a law which let the confiscation of assets belonging to individuals who cooperate with governments or groups deemed 'hostile' to Iran's security interests.

Iranian government figures suggest that about 5 million Iranians reside overseas, largely in the United States and Western Europe, though Iranian media reports place the number nearer to 10 million. According to the Pew Research Center, as of 2024, there were 750,000 Iranians living in the US.

Khamenei's killing

Ali Khamenei was killed in a precision strike carried out by the United States and Israel on February 28, followed by which tensions have sharply escalated across the Gulf. Iran has since launched a series of missile and drone attacks in retaliation against US military facilities and allied bases throughout the region, and its forces have struck targets in countries including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ali Khamenei, has been elected as Iran's new Supreme Leader following his father's killing. The second-eldest son of Khamenei, Mojtaba has long been as a likely successor by observers. Mojtaba's wife was confirmed killed in a strike on February 28.