Iran Denounces U.S. Arrests of Its Nationals
WANA (Jul 16) – The Director General for Iranians Abroad at Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the U.S. government’s mass arrest of Iranian nationals residing in the United States and the inhumane treatment they have faced. He stated: We will spare no effort to protect the rights of Iranians, and if any of our compatriots currently detained wish to return to Iran, they will receive the government’s full support and assistance.
Alireza Hashemi Rajaei, Director General for Iranians Abroad at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, strongly condemned what he called the U.S. government’s recent unlawful action in conducting mass arrests of Iranian nationals residing in the U.S. and treating them inhumanely.
Hashemi Rajaei said: This U.S. action, which follows that country’s support for and involvement in the illegal military aggression of the Israeli regime against Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, is clearly contrary to established international legal norms.
Expressing serious concern over this move by the U.S. government, he added: According to reports we have received, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as policymaker, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as enforcer, have implemented harsh policies and carried out large-scale law enforcement and security operations targeting Iranian residents in the United States. This has caused growing and serious concern for the families of those detained.
U.S. judge orders release of Iranian student
WANA (Jul 15) – A U.S. judge has ordered the release of an Iranian student who had been detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in Louisiana. Pouria Pourhossein Hendabad, 29, a Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering at Louisiana State University (LSU), was arrested on June 22, 2025, at his residence in Baton […]
The Director General for Iranians Abroad also cited the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, reminding the U.S. government of its obligation to facilitate prompt consular access for Iranian nationals by the Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Washington, D.C. He added: Despite initial consular follow-up, we have yet to receive any satisfactory explanation regarding the reasons for these arrests. We consider such repressive and inhumane treatment of these Iranians living in the U.S. unacceptable, and we demand respect for their rights, the immediate disclosure of their identities, and facilitation of consular access so that they can receive necessary services.
Hashemi Rajaei also stated: Depriving hundreds of people of the right to reside in another country solely on the basis of their nationality or religion constitutes racial discrimination and systemic racism in the U.S. government and violates international human rights norms, in particular the principle of non-discrimination and fundamental human rights. Naturally, this carries international legal responsibility for the U.S. government.
Emphasizing the Islamic Republic of Iran’s firm commitment to defending its citizens’ rights, Hashemi Rajaei said: We will spare no effort to protect the rights of Iranians against the effects and consequences of the U.S. government’s discriminatory decisions. Should any of our detained compatriots in America wish to return to their homeland, they will receive the full support and assistance of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
An Iranian man walks across a street wearing facial mask for protection against Corona virus, after usage of the product announced mandatory, in Tehran, Iran October 10, 2020. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
