Iran blasts Trump’s 12-country travel ban: racist policy or security move?

Iran has strongly criticized the reinstatement of President Donald Trump's travel ban affecting 12 countries, labeling it a "racist mentality" and a violation of international law.

Alireza Hashemi-Raja, Director General for the affairs of Iranians broad, called the policy "a clear sign of the dominance of a supremacist" mindset among American policymakers.

The Iranian foreign ministry echoed this sentiment on social media, stating, "The decision to ban the entry of — merely due to their religion and nationality — not only indicates the deep hostility of American decision-makers towards the Iranian people and Muslims but also violates... international law."

The travel ban targets Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, with partial restrictions on seven additional countries.

President Trump defended the ban as a necessary security measure to protect the United States from "foreign terrorists," recalling a similar policy he enacted during his first term from 2017 to 2021, which barred travelers from seven Muslim-majority nations.

"The ban is necessary to protect against 'foreign terrorists,'" Trump stated.

The move has reignited debate over whether the policy is a legitimate security effort or a discriminatory act targeting specific nationalities and religions.

This latest ban underscores ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, highlighting the broader geopolitical and human rights implications of such immigration policies.

Iran condemned President Donald Trump's reinstated travel ban on 12 countries, calling it a 'racist mentality' and a violation of international law. The ban targets nations including Iran, Afghanistan, and Somalia, and is defended by Trump as a security measure against foreign terrorists.