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In the aftermath of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, the Iranian judiciary has significantly escalated the identification, freezing, and confiscation of assets belonging to individuals residing abroad, framing these actions as part of a legal response to alleged collaboration with hostile actors. These measures are being justified under national security and espionage-related laws, with officials arguing that individuals who act against the state should not retain economic interests within Iran. Some of those targeted include journalists – particularly connected to the oppositional satellite channel Iran International – athletes, celebrities and some political activists. The broad scope, rapid expansion and opaque implementation of these policies raise serious human rights concerns, particularly given the absence of publicly available evidence and transparent judicial procedures in many cases.
The right to property, as recognized under international human rights standards, prohibits arbitrary deprivation of assets. The sweeping nature of these confiscations – often targeting large and diverse groups without individualized justification – strongly suggests a pattern of arbitrariness and disproportionality. At the same time, the apparent lack of due process safeguards, including clear charges, access to legal defense, and the ability to challenge decisions in independent courts, undermines fundamental principles of justice and the rule of law.
These actions also intersect directly with freedom of expression and press freedom. A number of those targeted are accused of sharing information, images, or reports with international media outlets. Such activities, in many cases, fall within the scope of legitimate journalism or freedom of expression. The use of asset seizure as a response to such activities risks criminalizing speech and suppressing independent reporting, further narrowing the already-constrained space for free expression.
Beyond individual cases, the policy seeks to impose a chilling effect on speech beyond the borders of Iran. By targeting Iranians living abroad—many of whom maintain only personal or economic ties to the country—the state is effectively extending its coercive reach beyond its borders. The reported expansion of these measures from approximately one hundred individuals to several hundred within a short period reinforces concerns that this is not a limited or targeted legal response, but rather, part of a broader pattern of pressure against dissenting voices. The suspension of legal mechanisms for transferring property also risks impacting ordinary citizens with no political involvement, restricting their economic rights without individualized justification or an ability to mount a defense.
These developments are unfolding within a broader context of heightened repression following the recent conflict, where authorities have publicly emphasized the need for accelerated judicial action and harsher penalties, including asset confiscation. In this environment, economic measures appear to be increasingly used alongside legal and security tools as a means of control, blurring the line between legitimate national security enforcement and punitive action against critics.
Taken together, the evidence suggests that asset seizure is being deployed not only as a legal instrument, but as a tool of political pressure and transnational repression. A rights-based approach would require that any restriction on property be strictly necessary, proportionate, and grounded in transparent legal processes, with full respect for due process, judicial independence, and the presumption of innocence—standards that appear to be increasingly at risk in the current context.
The National Iranian American Council finds this campaign deeply concerning. The Iranian government should immediately halt the sweeping seizure and restriction of assets targeting Iranians abroad, including Iranian Americans, and end policies that penalize individuals for their speech, affiliations, or perceived political positions. The use of economic coercion against diaspora communities violates fundamental human rights and further isolates millions of Iranians who maintain legitimate personal, familial, and economic ties to their country of origin. Respect for the rights and dignity of all Iranians – regardless of where they live or what views they hold – must be upheld without exception.