The US State Department on Thursday told Iran International that now more than ever, citizens and dual nationals should avoid travel to Iran despite a new initiative by Tehran aiming to woo back émigrés.
Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday said a new official website can allow Iranians abroad to return home risk-free by checking in advance whether they face any outstanding legal or security issues.
Concerns of official retribution give many Iranians outside the country pause about returning home.
Faced with deepening sanctions, Tehran is seeking to revitalize its isolated economy with investment and talent from its sizable diaspora.
Iranians can enter their details on a Foreign Ministry’s portal called Porseman to check whether they are “problem-free” to travel to Iran, Araghchi said. Those with a clean legal bill of health are given pre-approval in the form of a green tick.
Washington begged to differ, and in a response to an Iran International query on the new initiative by Tehran said its stern warning that Iran be avoided stands.
"The Department of State has long warned Americans not to travel to Iran and that is particularly true now. Anyone with a US connection, including dual US-Iranian nationals, is at significant risk of questioning, arrest, and detention in Iran."
Bitter foes since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and US embassy hostage crisis in Tehran, Iran and the United States have eyed each other with deep suspicion.
Ties hit a new low amid a 12-day US-Israeli military campaign against Iran in June.
In August, the state department said US citizens should steer clear of Iran to avoid being swept up in a post-war espionage dragnet there.
"The Iranian regime, following the 12-day war with Israel, is in the midst of unprecedented paranoia and a crackdown on spies and regime opponents," the State Department said in a post on its Persian X account USA Beh Farsi.
"Anyone considering travel to Iran should reconsider their decision. We repeat: US citizens should not travel to Iran!" it added.
While Iran says it welcomes the return of refugees, the country’s laws criminalize a wide range of behavior — including political dissent, activism, homosexuality and refusal to comply with compulsory hijab rules — issues which caused many Iranians to flee.
