Expert: "A political game in Iran's harsh climate"

In Iran, politicians with foreign citizenship are increasingly suspected in a harsh climate. This is according to Rouzbeh Parsi, Middle East expert and program director at the Institute for Foreign Policy. He cites, for example, the Deputy Environment Minister who was recently chased out of the country. He was of Iranian origin and had lived abroad.

"The hardy do not want outside influences that could jeopardize cleanliness, while the more reform-friendly forces see returning Iranians as a resource to increase economic exchange," he says.

A proposal that strengthens the ban on dual citizenship for persons with official posts has been debated in Parliament. The Iranian defunct journalist published a list of holders of foreign background. He then says he felt threatened by the security service.

- It is about a political game of power where you want to put down opponents. People become tiles in the game. The situation for human rights has worsened with more prison countries by lawyers who have defended activists, Rouzbeh Parsi told SVT News.

He believes that there is a continuing tendency in Iran to limit freedom of expression, where activists and journalists are imprisoned and sentenced. However, as media run the risk of having their publisher license revoked if they publish critical views, there is widespread self-censorship, according to Parsi.

- Governors in the country have not succeeded in restricting the internet and social media. It's been more of a snack than a workshop, he says.