"Alaj" system threatens Iranian protesters abroad with asset seizures

On Sunday, 8 November 2026, the Islamic Republic sent a message in the name of the "Alaj" system threatening Iranian protesters abroad who take part in rallies with court cases, seizure of their assets and denial of consular services. The message came a day after the rally of tens of thousands of Prince Reza Pahlavi's supporters in Frankfurt.

The message calls rallies by Iranians abroad "against Iran's national interests" and claims that participants' activities are being monitored by intelligence bodies. The threat covers organisers, page administrators and participants, and speaks of identifying their financial and business ties inside Iran and acting against those assets. The message names no specific judicial authority, offers no evidence and gives no way to appeal against such a decision.

What is the "Alaj" system

The "Alaj" system was launched in the Iranian month of Shahrivar 1405 (August–September 2026), promoted by state media, and asked users to send information about opponents of the Islamic Republic abroad. The body running the system was not named when it was first introduced.

A record of confiscating the property of Iranians abroad

The new threat continues a policy that has intensified since the start of the Iranian year 1405. In Farvardin (March–April 2026), Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi ordered the identification and seizure of the assets and the freezing of the bank accounts of more than 100 Iranians abroad, including staff of independent Persian-language media. In the same month, registration of powers of attorney for property transfers through the "Mikhak" consular system was halted.

In Shahrivar (August–September 2026), the Islamic Republic's judiciary claimed that 240 properties had been seized and 182 bank accounts frozen, some of them belonging to journalists and well-known figures abroad. Asadollah Jafari, head of the Isfahan judiciary, said in Khordad (May–June 2026) that seizing emigrants' assets weakens rallies in front of embassies.

These threats are part of the Islamic Republic's transnational repression, which in recent weeks also led to restrictions on Prince Reza Pahlavi's appearance at the Frankfurt rally.

After the Frankfurt rally, the Islamic Republic threatened Iranian protesters abroad with confiscation of their families' property in Iran.