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Tehran Threatens to Confiscate Property of Iranians Abroad Who Back Attacks on Iran

An Iranian civil defense member walks next to a destroyed fuel tanker vehicle near an ongoing fire following an overnight airstrike on the Shahran oil refinery in northwestern Tehran on March 8, 2026. (AFP)
An Iranian civil defense member walks next to a destroyed fuel tanker vehicle near an ongoing fire following an overnight airstrike on the Shahran oil refinery in northwestern Tehran on March 8, 2026. (AFP)
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Tehran Threatens to Confiscate Property of Iranians Abroad Who Back Attacks on Iran

An Iranian civil defense member walks next to a destroyed fuel tanker vehicle near an ongoing fire following an overnight airstrike on the Shahran oil refinery in northwestern Tehran on March 8, 2026. (AFP)
An Iranian civil defense member walks next to a destroyed fuel tanker vehicle near an ongoing fire following an overnight airstrike on the Shahran oil refinery in northwestern Tehran on March 8, 2026. (AFP)

Iranians ‌living abroad could have property confiscated and face other legal penalties if they express support for the United States and Israel, the Iranian prosecutor general's office said on Monday. 

Some members of the Iranian diaspora who want political change in Tehran took to the streets of European ‌and American cities ‌to celebrate the killing ‌of ⁠Supreme Leader ⁠Ali Khamenei in the US-Israeli war against Iran. Iran on Monday named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father. 

"A warning has been issued to those Iranians living abroad who ⁠in different ways sympathize, support ‌or cooperate ‌with the American-Zionist (Israeli) enemy," the prosecutor general's office ‌was quoted as saying by ‌state media. 

"They will be met with the confiscation of all their properties and other legal penalties in accordance with ‌the law."  

Newly established channels on Telegram have shared details of prominent ⁠Iranians ⁠living abroad who have posted comments critical of Iran's clerical authorities and supportive of the US-Israeli military campaign that began on February 28. 

Up to 5 million Iranians live abroad, the majority of them in the United States and Western Europe, according to Iranian government data. Iranian media put their numbers closer to 10 million. 

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World

Iran War’s Effects Already a Reality in Europe, Says EU Chief

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a media conference at EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Monday, March 2, 2026. (AP)
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a media conference at EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Monday, March 2, 2026. (AP)
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Iran War’s Effects Already a Reality in Europe, Says EU Chief

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a media conference at EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Monday, March 2, 2026. (AP)
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a media conference at EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Monday, March 2, 2026. (AP)

The ripples from war in the Middle East are already being felt in Europe, with rising energy prices and NATO allies targeted, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Monday.

Oil prices soared Monday peaking just short of $120 a barrel as the US-Israeli war against Iran continued into a second week, with Tehran launching fresh retaliatory strikes in the Gulf.

"We are now seeing a regional conflict with unintended consequences. And the spillover is already a reality today," the European Commission president told EU ambassadors, ahead of a midday call with Middle Eastern leaders.

"Our citizens are caught in the crossfire. Our partners are being attacked," she said, citing an Iranian-made drone hitting a British base on EU-member Cyprus, trade disruptions and the "displacement of people".

While Iran has not officially shut off the Strait of Hormuz -- through which a fifth of the world's crude supplies and a substantial amount of gas run -- shipping through the critical waterway has all but dried up.

European gas prices also jumped as much as 30 percent Monday, albeit remaining well below the peaks reached in the aftermath of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Von der Leyen stressed that "there should be no tears shed for the Iranian regime".

"The people of Iran deserve freedom, dignity, and the right to decide their own future -- even if we know this will be fraught with danger and instability during and after the war."

The "longer-term impact" of the war posed "existential questions" on the future of an international rules-based system and the 27-nation's bloc place in the world, she told the annual gathering of European Union diplomats in Brussels.

"The idea that we can simply retrench and withdraw from this chaotic world is simply a fallacy," she said.

Von der Leyen also addressed the Ukraine conflict and assured the gathering that Brussels will see through a vital 90-billion-euro ($104 billion) loan to Kyiv that is being blocked by Hungary.

"We will deliver on our commitments, because our credibility -- and more importantly, our security -- is at stake," she said.

World

Iran's Foreign Ministry Dismisses Idea of Talks While Country is Under Attack

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei (Iranian News Agency)
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei (Iranian News Agency)
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Iran's Foreign Ministry Dismisses Idea of Talks While Country is Under Attack

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei (Iranian News Agency)
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei (Iranian News Agency)

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson downplayed the likelihood of a ceasefire as long as attacks continue, Iran's Student News Network reported on Monday, ‌adding that ‌Iran would ‌continue ⁠to defend itself.

"There ⁠is no point to talks about anything but defense and crushing retaliations ⁠against enemies," ‌Esmaeil ‌Baghaei said, before reiterating ‌that Tehran has ‌no war to fight with its Muslim neighbors but must ‌target "facilities used by aggressors" for its legitimate ⁠defense.

The ⁠foreign ministry spokesperson also denied any Iranian attack against Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Cyprus, pointing instead at what he called "false flag attacks."

World

Japan to Deploy Counter-Strike Missiles Closer to China

A vehicle carrying the first batch of domestically developed long-range missiles, arrives at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto, southwestern Japan, early Monday, March 9, 2026. (Kyodo News via AP)
A vehicle carrying the first batch of domestically developed long-range missiles, arrives at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto, southwestern Japan, early Monday, March 9, 2026. (Kyodo News via AP)
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Japan to Deploy Counter-Strike Missiles Closer to China

A vehicle carrying the first batch of domestically developed long-range missiles, arrives at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto, southwestern Japan, early Monday, March 9, 2026. (Kyodo News via AP)
A vehicle carrying the first batch of domestically developed long-range missiles, arrives at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto, southwestern Japan, early Monday, March 9, 2026. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan will deploy a batch of long-range, counter-strike missiles in a southwest region near China by the end of March, officials said Monday.

The Ground Self-Defense Force plans to position its Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles, with a reported range of 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), in Kumamoto, Kyushu region, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a regular briefing.

"I have been told that once the necessary preparation has been made, the ministry of defense will brief local residents" about the move, said the top government spokesman.

Japan is attempting to shore up its military capacity as China increases its naval activities in the East China Sea.

It wants to hold its "counter-strike" capacity and use the missiles to hit enemy bases if Japan comes under direct attack.

Japan's ties with Beijing quickly soured after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hinted in November that Tokyo could intervene militarily in any attack on self-ruled Taiwan.

China views Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out taking it by force.

Since Takaichi's remark, Beijing has imposed economic pressure on Tokyo and discouraged Chinese nationals from visiting Japan.

Local media said Japan's ground force delivered a launcher for the missiles to Kumamoto overnight without an advance notice to local communities, prompting dozens of opponents to stage a protest in front of a local military base.

Critics of the move say the missiles' deployment could make the area a target of possible enemy attacks.