Iran: IRGC reportedly arrests 30 dual nationals in past two years

Event

The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has arrested at least 30 Iranian dual nationals in the past two years, according to media reports published on Thursday, November 9, representing a drastic increase in reported dual national arrests compared to previous years. Most of those arrested since 2015 have been charged with espionage, and maintain European citizenship. Iranian authorities typically prohibit dual nationals who are detained in the country from accessing diplomatic services of their second nationality.

Context

Iran does not recognize dual citizenship and has been accused by foreign lawyers and diplomats of detaining dual nationals for leverage in international diplomatic negotiations. In the past, the majority of dual nationals detained in Iran have also held American citizenship. The increase in the IRGC's recent arrests of European-Iranian dual nationals coincides with the organization's criticism of the Iranian government for increasingly awarding contracts to European business interests since the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, or Iran nuclear deal) in 2015. It also illustrates the internal political tension between conservative, xenophobic segments of the Iranian political apparatus and its more pragmatic, outward-looking elements, including President Hassan Rouhani, for whom the signing and implementation of the JCPOA was a primary foreign policy achievement.

Advice

Individuals present in Iran, especially dual nationals, should remain vigilant at all times. Report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities. Always be on guard when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted in an attack (public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, festivals, etc.). Travelers should note that some Western governments advise their citizens against nonessential travel to certain areas of the country, including zones adjacent to the Afghan, Pakistani, and Iraqi borders.