Iran has strongly criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly announced travel ban, calling it a reflection of “profound hostility” toward Iranians and Muslims. The ban, which targets citizens from 12 countries including Iran and Somalia, is set to take effect Monday at 12:01 a.m. EDT.
In a statement released on Saturday via the Foreign Ministry’s official X account, a senior Iranian official condemned the measure, describing it as discriminatory and a violation of international norms.
“The move to bar Iranian nationals solely based on their religion and nationality exposes the deep-seated animosity of American policymakers toward the Iranian people and the wider Muslim community,” the official stated.
Trump’s proclamation, issued Wednesday, restricts entry to the U.S. for citizens of the following countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Justifying the decision, Trump claimed the measure is necessary to safeguard national security and protect against “foreign terrorist threats.” The announcement echoes a controversial policy from his first term in office (2017–2021), when a similar ban targeted several Muslim-majority nations, sparking global backlash and legal challenges.
Iranian authorities have urged the international community to denounce what they describe as a politically motivated and Islamophobic act, warning that such policies only deepen divisions and undermine diplomatic engagement.
