Iran condemns Trump’s “Racist” travel ban, Citing deep-rooted hostility

Iran has sharply criticized United States President Donald Trump’s recent travel ban on its nationals and those of several other countries, labeling it “racist” and an indicator of profound hostility towards Iranians and Muslims.

President Trump earlier this week signed an executive order that bars and restricts travelers from 19 nations, including several African and Middle Eastern countries.

The policy, set to take effect on Monday, mirrors measures implemented during Trump’s previous term in office from 2017-2021. In the executive order, Trump stated he “must act to protect the national security” of the United States.

Alireza Hashemi-Raja, who heads the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ department for Iranians abroad, stated on Saturday that the decision reveals “the dominance of a supremacist and racist mentality among American policymakers.” He further asserted in a statement, “This measure indicates the deep hostility of American decision-makers towards the Iranian and Muslim people.”

The latest restrictions apply to nationals from Iran, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

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A limited ban has also been imposed on travelers from seven other countries.

Hashemi-Raja argued that the policy breaches international legal norms and denies millions the fundamental right to travel, based solely on nationality or faith.

He added that the ban would “entail international responsibility for the US government,” without providing further details.

The US and Iran have not maintained formal diplomatic relations since 1980, following the Islamic Revolution.

Despite decades of strained ties, the United States remains home to the world’s largest Iranian diaspora, with approximately 1.5 million Iranians residing there as of 2020, according to Tehran’s Foreign Ministry.