The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has detained at least 30 dual-national Iranian citizens over the past two years

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran has detained at least 30 dual-national Iranian citizens over the past two years on charges including espionage. According to Reuters, this figure, based on statements from lawyers, diplomats, and family members of the detainees, is double the number previously reported by local or international media. This statistic comes at a time when, following the nuclear agreement in 2015, there was hope for a thaw in relations between Tehran and the West, especially since in previous years the number of detained dual nationals was in single digits. The report indicates that Tehran has noticeably shifted its focus to targeting Iranian-European dual nationals. While previously most detainees were Iranian-Americans, 19 of these 30 individuals hold European citizenship. Families and lawyers of these individuals have stated that the IRGC has used them as bargaining chips in international relations while simultaneously discouraging European companies interested in establishing trade in Iran. The IRGC, as the most powerful security force in Iran, has criticized the government for awarding commercial contracts to foreigners. Reuters further noted that the IRGC has not responded to multiple requests for comment from the news agency. The Iranian government subsequently referred the news agency to the judiciary, which also declined to respond to Reuters' inquiries. Iranian officials have previously denied allegations of extortion through the hostage-taking of these individuals and accuse Western governments of holding Iranian citizens on false charges. Reuters reported that families and lawyers of the dual nationals, as well as Western diplomats, have provided information regarding these individuals, including names, dates of detention, and charges, on the condition that it not be disclosed. They expressed fear of the consequences of providing this information. Iran, which typically does not announce detentions or charges against detainees, does not recognize the dual nationality of its citizens. This is despite the fact that the Vienna Convention of the United Nations preserves these individuals' rights to access consular assistance. Sources who provided information to Reuters regarding these prisoners have denied any involvement of the detainees in espionage activities, stating that the real reason for their arrests is their secondary citizenship. They noted that sharing this information with Reuters was necessary because both Iranian officials and Western governments have refrained from providing any information about their prisoners. Several countries, including the UK and the Netherlands, believe that keeping these cases low-profile is in the best interest of the detainees. Some families only break their silence after losing hope for the release of their loved ones. Vida Mehran-Nia, the wife of Ahmadreza Jalali, an Iranian scientist residing in Sweden who was detained last year after traveling to Iran for a scientific conference, began to publicize his case nine months ago. In a phone interview from Stockholm, she stated that she started to make his detention public after nine months when her husband went on a hunger strike in prison after being threatened with execution by the prosecutor. Ahmadreza Jalali was sentenced to death last month on espionage charges. Occasionally, confirmation of new detentions is indirectly provided by officials. According to documents related to European Parliament sessions in June of this year, three Iranian-Dutch citizens are currently imprisoned in Iran, and only one of them has been reported. Daphne Korenmans, a spokesperson for the Dutch Foreign Ministry, told Reuters that the other two detainees were arrested five years ago (November 2012) and about two years ago (January 2016), and the Dutch government's actions have focused more on ensuring a fair trial than on requesting their release. Reuters noted information posted on the Downing Street website indicating that former British Prime Minister David Cameron raised the issue of three detained Iranian-British citizens in a phone call with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in January 2016 (21 months ago). At that time, only information regarding two of them had been made public. According to this report, the British Foreign Ministry spokesperson declined to provide details to Reuters about the number of Iranian-British prisoners in Iran, stating that London has consulted with Iran on this matter at every opportunity. Among these prisoners is Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, an Iranian-British aid worker who works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Ms. Zaghari was detained in April 2016 while traveling to Iran for a holiday and was later accused of plotting to overthrow the government. The Thomson Reuters Foundation and Ms. Zaghari's family have consistently denied these allegations. During the nuclear agreement negotiations, Iran released five other American citizens from prison in 2016 as part of a prisoner swap, except for one individual. Based on information provided by family members or lawyers, six citizens or green card holders of the United States have been imprisoned in Iran since then, with only one of them released on bail. A U.S. State Department official confirmed the detention of three of these individuals but refrained from commenting on the other two, while emphasizing the unfairness of the detention of another individual named Nizar Zaka and calling for his release. In this context, Amnesty International has called for the immediate cancellation of Ahmadreza Jalali's death sentence. Nazanin Zaghari has reportedly been accused of new crimes, and there are calls for the release of Siamak and Baqer Namazi by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.