Scion of Iran's Hardline Regine Enjoys California Life, Sparking Calls for Deportation

LOS ANGELES — The son of a high-profile Iranian official from the 1979 U.S. Embassy hostage crisis is living a quiet, affluent life in Southern California, according to documents and photos reviewed by Fox News Digital. His presence has ignited growing calls for his deportation from activists who argue it is unjust for relatives of Iran's Islamist leadership to enjoy American liberties while their government suppresses basic rights at home.

Eissa Hashemi, 43, is the son of Masoumeh Ebtekar, who served as the English-language spokesperson for the students who seized the Tehran embassy and held 52 Americans captive for 444 days. Ebtekar, dubbed "Screaming Mary" by U.S. media at the time, later rose to become Vice President for Women and Family Affairs in Iran from 2017 to 2021.

Photos show Hashemi frequenting upscale gyms in the Los Angeles area. He works as an adjunct psychology professor at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Public records and social media traces place him and his wife, Maryam Tahmasebi, in Agoura Hills, an affluent suburb in Los Angeles County.

This case echoes a recent incident involving relatives of the late Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, who were detained by immigration authorities in L.A. and had their green cards revoked. Their social media posts—featuring bikinis, yachts, and luxury cars—drew sharp criticism from Iranian diaspora members, who noted such displays could lead to severe punishment in Iran.

In a 2008 interview, Hashemi offered a glimpse into his perspective on the hostage crisis, telling PBS he came to understand its "important cause" after reading his mother's translated memoir.

Multiple petitions on Change.org demand that U.S. authorities investigate and deport Hashemi. One petition states: "Hosting these families undermines U.S. values and insults those fighting for freedom in Iran."

The debate touches on broader questions of accountability, foreign policy consistency, and the privileges extended to families of regimes in conflict with American ideals.

Voices from the Community

David Chen, Policy Analyst, Washington D.C.: "This isn't about punishing individuals for their family ties. It's about consistency. If the U.S. sanctions regime officials for human rights abuses, should their immediate families simultaneously enjoy the benefits of our open society? It creates a moral and diplomatic dissonance."

Sarah Miller, Immigration Attorney, Los Angeles: "U.S. immigration law doesn't permit deportation based solely on familial association. There must be evidence of personal involvement in criminal or terrorist activity. We must guard against guilt by association, however politically uncomfortable the situation may be."

Ramin Nazari, Former Political Prisoner & Activist, Toronto: "It's a sickening double game. These children live in freedom because of the blood and suffering of the Iranian people their parents helped oppress. Every day they sip coffee in L.A. is a slap in the face to every prisoner of conscience in Evin Prison. Deport them now!"

Leila Amiri, Journalist & Iranian Diaspora Advocate: "While the anger is understandable, we risk mirroring the regime's tactics of collective punishment. Many children of officials are themselves dissidents. The focus should be on a structured policy review, not targeting individuals based on emotional outcry."