Iranian scientists are not alone. Many Chinese-born scientists are targeted as well. Scientific research has been politicized to another level lately.
https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/arti...
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/17/technology/sherry-chen-na...
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2019-06-13/the-u-s-i...
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/chinese-scientists-fbi-nih...