Iran has long considered that nationality goes with the father, not the mother.
The change will impact the children of American fathers and Iranian mothers. But the reason for the change had nothing to do with American expatriates. It was prompted by the huge number of Afghan refugees who have lived in Iran for decades and married with Iranians.
Mixed families of Afghan fathers and Iranian mothers have seen their children widely discriminated against. Tens of thousands of offspring are believed to be impacted.
There has been a movement supported by many Iranians to grant citizenship outright to these children who are born in Iran, raised in Iranian culture and speak Farsi like the natives that they are. The Majlis heard that appeal—but rejected it.
These offspring will remain non-citizens, but will gain many benefits through legal residency. The Khaneh Mellat website said these children will now gain the right to an education in Iranian schools and will no longer be subject to expulsion from the classroom, as has happened periodically around the country.
They will also gain access to education, health insurance, social security and government cash benefits, the website said.
Under current law, these children will still be able to apply for citizenship after reaching the age of 18. But they will no longer be treated as illegal immigrants before that age.