Shabtabnews In this dark night, I have lost my way – Arise from a corner, oh you the star of guidance.
Iranwire – On the tenth day of the war, Monday, March 9, the Office of the Prosecutor General issued a statement threatening Iranians living abroad with “asset seizure” and “execution.”
The statement asserts that the assets of Iranians abroad who “echo, accompany, or cooperate with the enemy” will be confiscated.
For non-Iranian readers, “echoing the enemy” is an expansive and ambiguous legal phrase that the Islamic Republic frequently uses to brand nearly any expression of dissent as a crime – whether that means posting on social media, joining anti-war demonstrations, or speaking to international media outlets. By warning of asset confiscation, the authorities are effectively putting at risk the homes, bank accounts, and inheritances of millions of Iranians abroad who continue to maintain family connections and property inside Iran.
The Prosecutor General also referred to Article 1 of the law on “Intensifying the Punishment for Espionage,” stating that “any operational action” carried out on behalf of Israel, the United States, or “other hostile regimes and groups” would lead to the “death penalty.”
In recent months, the phrase “operational action” has been applied more broadly, extending beyond military activity to include actions such as human rights advocacy or support for international sanctions. This shift suggests that the new leadership under Mojtaba Khamenei is moving toward a “scorched earth” legal approach aimed at silencing the diaspora, which has increasingly served as a key channel for information and coordination within the domestic protest movement.
Reports indicate that even as Iran remains in a state of war, security agencies have escalated their pressure on Iranian activists. With the conflict intensifying, the situation has reached a point where Iranians abroad face both financial threats and the risk of severe, potentially life-threatening consequences.
