By Kayhan Life Staff
The Islamic Republic has resumed the practice of confiscating the assets of Iranians living abroad — a practice that was a widespread tool of repression after the 1979 Revolution. The authorities justify the recent confiscations by saying that the individuals concerned collaborated with Israel or other countries hostile to the Islamic Republic.
Asset confiscation has long been a tool of repression for the Islamic Republic. In the aftermath of the 1979 Revolution, the regime seized the assets of hundreds of former Pahlavi officials, as well as entrepreneurs, university professors, artists, and other citizens living abroad.
Since the January 2026 protests, asset confiscation has once again become a widely used method of pressure by Iranian authorities.
There have been recent reports that at least three Iranians living overseas have had their assets confiscated.
On March 25, the judiciary-affiliated news agency Mizan reported that a court had issued an order to confiscate the personal assets of an individual identified by the initials B.A. The report stated: “By order of judicial authorities, all registered assets of B.A. and several of his close associates in Iran have been seized due to their collaboration with terrorist elements and Israel.”
Mizan reported that the individual “collaborated with a foreign intelligence service after leaving the country and played a role in anti-Iranian actions and supporting attacks against the country.”
The Fars news agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), identified the person as Borzou Arjmand, an Iranian actor residing in the United States.
The next day, domestic media reported that the Public Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of Yazd Province (central Iran) had seized the assets of a man, A.S.Z., and a woman, M.M.A., both originally from Yazd and currently residing abroad.
Ali Sharifi Zarchi, a former professor at Sharif University of Technology (formerly Aryamehr Industrial University), is the man whose assets were seized by the Yazd Public Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office.
Sharifi Zarchi previously spoke out against the Islamic Republic during the January protests while on an academic trip to China. In a post on “X,” he condemned the systematic killing of thousands of unarmed citizens during the demonstrations, and added, “Ali Khamenei is not my leader.”
Sharifi Zarchi also protested the suppression of students during the 2021 protests, which led to his temporary detention. During the 2021 presidential elections, he was a strong supporter of candidate Masoud Pezeshkian and the government, but following the January protests, he shifted his loyalties, aligning with supporters of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi.
The Yazd Prosecutor’s Office accused Sharifi Zarchi of being “an anti-Iranian element and a supporter of the Zionist regime after leaving Iran and playing a key role in justifying the killing of children and attacks by American-Zionist forces on residential areas and critical infrastructure during the Ramadan war.”
In response to the asset seizure, Sharifi Zarchi wrote: “The insignificant assets that you have seized were the result of 25 years of teaching young people and working for Iran. They were dedicated to a smile on the faces of children and youth who were mercilessly massacred during the protests of January 2026, of the fall of 2022, of October 2019, and earlier. They are dedicated to a single hair of the Iranian people.”
Hossein Tahmasbi, head of the Yazd Provincial Judiciary, described Sharifi Zarchi as “a supporter of military action against Iran” and claimed that he was “currently whitewashing military actions in Iran.”
Tahmasbi added: “Based on investigations, this individual owns shares in several tile companies in Yazd Province, and an order has been issued to review the founding documents of these companies.”
The Yazd Prosecutor’s Office also announced the seizure of assets belonging to another woman from Yazd, M.M.A., stating that her case mirrored that of Sharifi Zarchi.
On March 26, the Prosecutor’s Office of Golestan Province (southern Iran) announced the identification and seizure of registered assets belonging to 16 Iranian citizens living abroad, citing allegations like those leveled against Arjmand and Sharifi Zarchi.
The office noted, “Among these individuals, there are two well-known figures whose identities will be revealed once the process is complete. In the past two days, the assets of three individuals linked to terrorists abroad have been identified and seized.”
Kazem Mousavi, head of the Qom Judiciary (northern Iran), announced in late December that Mohammad Saedi-Nia (or Saeedinia), owner of the Saedi-Nia cafes, had been arrested for “inciting riots.” He also reported the initiation of a legal case under Article 49 of the Iranian Constitution, which permits the seizure of citizens’ assets.
Subsequently, reports emerged of the confiscation of assets belonging to two factory owners in Tehran Province, although their identities were not disclosed. These individuals were allegedly accused of encouraging their workers to join anti-government protests.
Authorities emphasized that the judiciary would prioritize asset confiscation as a means of “compensating for damages” in the cases of detained protesters.
The ongoing conflict between Israel, the U.S., and the Islamic Republic has intensified asset confiscations, targeting citizens accused of collaborating with Israel or the U.S., or supporting military actions against Iran.
On March 9, the Islamic Republic Judiciary issued a statement warning that Iranians living abroad who support or cooperate with U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran could face asset confiscation — or even the death penalty.
Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, head of Iran’s judiciary, also issued a warning on March 4: “Given the state of war we are in, individuals who act in words or deeds in alignment with the illegitimate demands of the enemy will be dealt with decisively and severely in accordance with the existing laws.”
Last week, Iranian national football team striker Sardar Azmoun was targeted by Iranian security agencies for sharing photos of his meeting with senior officials in Dubai, provoking the authorities’ ire. He faced the threat of asset confiscation.
The Fars news agency reported that Azmoun had been expelled from the national team and accused of “aligning with the enemies,” and called for “swift judicial action” against the footballer.
