This is a list of individuals who have defected from Iran.
NameOccupationYear Notes Alireza SohbatiDiplomat2026Diplomat at the Iranian embassy in Copenhagen, applied for asylum in Denmark. Mohammad PournajafDiplomat2026Chargé d'affaires of the Islamic Republic’s embassy in Canberra, applied for asylum in Australia.Atefeh RamezanizadehAthlete2026Player for the Iran women's national football team; defected during the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia and was subsequently granted a humanitarian visa by the Australian governmentZahra GhanbariAthlete2026Player for the Iran women's national football team; defected during the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia and was subsequently granted a humanitarian visa by the Australian governmentFatemeh PasandidehAthlete2026Player for the Iran women's national football team; defected during the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia and was subsequently granted a humanitarian visa by the Australian governmentGholam-Reza DerikvandDiplomat2026Chargé d'affaires of the Iranian embassy in Vienna; requested asylum from Switzerland due to the political unrest during the 2025-2026 Iranian protestsAlireza Jeyrani HokmabadDiplomat2026Senior official at Iran’s permanent mission to UN; requested asylum from Switzerland due to the political unrest during the 2025-2026 Iranian protests Athlete 2020 First woman from Iran to win an Olympic medal (Taekwondo) Athlete 2019 Olympic judoka and 2018 world champion Athlete 2019 Para-archer who qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan Diplomat 2010 Former press attache at the Iranian embassy in Brussels, Belgium Diplomat 2010 Diplomat 2010 Nuclear scientist 2009 Returned to Iran in 2010; executed by the Iranian government in 2016 “for revealing top secrets to the enemy” 1998 Eldest son of Iranian conservative politician and senior military officer Mohsen Rezaee; found dead in 2011 at a hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (possible assassination) Intelligence operative 1996 Singer 1994 Athlete 1986 Weightlifter competing at the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul, South Korea; won the bronze medal at the 242-pound class Athlete 1986 Weightlifter competing at the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul, South Korea Athlete 1986 Weightlifter competing at the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul, South Korea Athlete 1986 Weightlifter competing at the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul, South Korea Pilot 1986 Former pilot for the speaker of the Iranian parliament, Akbar Rafsanjani; assassinated in Hamburg, West Germany, in 1987 Pilot1983Due to his opposition to the Iranian regime, he first flew to Van in Turkey in a Northrop F-5 (the plane returned a week later). He later went to the U.S. before disappearing there in 1989. Diplomat 1982 Chargé d'affaires at the Iranian embassy in Oslo, Norway Athlete 1982 Wrestler Athlete 1982 Wrestler Pilot 1982 Iranian airline pilot; applied for political asylum in Austria after piloting his Iran Air Boeing 727 on a flight from Tehran Iranian Air Pilot Defects. Associated Press. The Victoria Advocate 18 October 1982: 7A. Athlete 1982 Wrestler; defected during the 1982 World Wrestling Championships in Edmonton, Canada Diplomat 1982 Charge d'affaires at the Iranian embassy in Rome, Italy; assassinated in Rome in 1993 Military 1981 Iranian Air Force colonel
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