Iran’s chief justice says a significant number of Iranians living abroad express a desire to return but grapple with a lack of trust in the regime.

Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei stated that mechanisms to foster trust between Iranians abroad and the government could help in this regard.

“We should treat the Iranians returning from abroad, including tourists, with utmost courtesy and dignity at key points such as airports, consulates, and embassies. In this way, the negative impact of foreign propaganda against our country can be neutralized,” he added.

Current estimates suggest that four to five million first-generation Iranians have settled in other countries, and the number may increase when considering their children born abroad, often acquiring Iranian citizenship. Some estimates propose that the total number of Iranians outside the country could be around eight million.

However, many Iranians living abroad, especially those with dual citizenship who could be accused of espionage for foreign governments, hesitate to return due to fears of being denied exit or facing imprisonment for their political activities or criticism of the regime while residing abroad.

In recent years, dozens of dual nationals, particularly citizens of Western countries such as the United States, Britain, and Germany, have been sentenced to prison on charges of espionage. The Islamic Republic often employs the individuals as bargaining chips in negotiations with foreign governments or exchanges them with Iranian prisoners in return for financial considerations.