Tehran: Iran's parliament passed a law on Sunday allowing children with an Iranian mother and a foreign father to acquire Iranian nationality, the official Irna news agency reported.
Iran, like many other countries in the Middle East, has traditionally based nationality on paternity alone and has been reluctant to grant citizenship to people seen as outsiders.
"The children born in Iran from a foreigner father and an Iranian mother can apply for citizenship after they reach 18," the new law said, according to Irna.
People who meet certain conditions, such as giving up other nationalities they may have, can enjoy the law, Irna said. Iran does not recognise dual nationality.
"If the marriage of their parents has been registered, those people who lack criminal records or a security violation background can apply for citizenship," it said.
