Tehran to impose penalties, confiscate assets of Iranians abroad who 'cooperate' with Israel, US

Iran's judiciary on Monday said it will confiscate the properties and impose penalties on members of the Iranian diaspora living abroad who 'cooperate' with Israel and the United States.

"Iranians abroad who align, accompany and cooperate with the American-Zionist aggressor enemy will face confiscation of all their property and other legal penalties in accordance with the law," the judiciary's Mizan Online website said, quoting the prosecutor general's office, according to AFP.




The announcement comes after 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 US-Israeli war against Iran.

Following his death, Mojtaba Khamenei was named the new Supreme Leader of Tehran.

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

"They will face the confiscation of all their properties and other legal penalties in accordance with the law."

Newly established channels on Telegram have shared details of prominent Iranians living abroad who have posted comments critical of Iran's clerical authorities and supportive of the US-Israeli military campaign that began on February 28, according to Reuters.

Up to 5 million Iranians live abroad, the majority of them in the United States and Western Europe, according to Iranian government data. Iranian media estimate the number closer to 10 million.