UK Updates Iran Country Policy and Information Notes for Asylum and Human Rights Applications, Including Military Service
What changed
The UK Home Office published an updated Country Policy and Information Note (CPIN) about military service in Iran. It was published on 26 August 2026. This document is Version 4.0. It replaces the old guidance on military service from November 2022. The updated CPIN looks at the situation of Iranian military conscripts, draft evaders, and deserters. It covers compulsory service, exemptions, service conditions, and how people are treated if they refuse orders. It also covers penalties for evading or deserting service. It looks at how military service might relate to claims for asylum and humanitarian protection. This updated review is important. It includes newer information from 2025 and 2026. This includes events during periods of civil unrest and international conflict. For example, it mentions reports that an Iranian conscript was sentenced to death. This happened after he refused orders to shoot protesters during the January 2026 nationwide protests. However, the note also states there is not enough evidence that ordinary conscripts are generally forced to take part in acts against basic human behaviour rules. The Home Office still believes that evading or deserting the draft in Iran will not usually be enough to claim asylum under the Refugee Convention. Also, normal military service usually does not create a real risk of persecution or serious harm. But the guidance points out situations where a different decision might be needed for an individual case. These include specific ethnic or political backgrounds, and evidence about how a person has been treated.
The detail
Policy history
UK Updates Iran Country Policy and Information Notes for Asylum and Human Rights Applications, Including Military ServicRelated changes
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