Iran’s Intelligence Ministry Disqualifies 35 Dual Nationals from Working in Government Positions

Seyyed Hossein Naqavi Hosseini, the Spokesman for the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, announced that Intelligence Minister Seyyed Mahmoud Alavi has recently briefed MPs on certain reports about the use of dual nationals in government positions.

“The Minister declared that the Ministry is strongly sensitive about the issue of government executives with dual nationality, and will disqualify whoever holds a nationality other than Iran’s,” he said, as reported by ICANA and translated by IFP.

“Based on the report Alavi gave to the Iranian Parliament, 79 individuals were suspected to be dual nationals; however, precise examinations revealed that 35 hold dual nationalities, and the relevant organizations [who wanted to hire these people] were informed of the issue.”

This does not necessarily mean these 35 have been dismissed from their positions or barred from those jobs, Naqavi Hosseini said, adding, however, that the Minister said the disqualification has led to the dismissal in many cases.

Legal Confrontation with Dual Nationality

In order to eliminate the existing legal vacuums, a joint commission has been formed to investigate a bill amending citizenship laws, Naqavi Hossein had noted a few days ago.

“In recent months, several meetings have been held in the Iranian Parliament’s Foreign Policy and National Security Commission on the issue of dual nationality; we even held special meetings with Intelligence Minister Alavi to address this issue.”

The MP went on to say that “after a meticulous investigation on the roots of dual nationality issue, it became clear that there lays a legal vacuum in this issue; thus our primary step should focus on removing the existing problems and shortcomings.”

Stating that these legal vacuums prepare the ground for dual nationality to happen, Naghavi Hosseini asserted that “the Parliament is very sensitive on the issue and definitely will take necessary measures to encounter the gaps.”

The MP further pointed out, “The commission is to hold a session with the participation of some other commissions and five members of the Foreign Policy and National Security Commission to provide the ground for amending the relevant rules.”