The Finistere prefecture in France refused Iranian GM Amin Tabatabaei a residency permit. The prefecture gave him one month to return to Iran. Tabatabaei has lived in Brest since September 2025.

Former Brest deputy mayor Reza Salami helped several elite grandmasters move from Iran to France. In 2019, he hosted Alireza Firouzja, current France’s No. 1, and in 2020, Mitra Hejazipour, winner of the 2023 French Championship. In 2026, Reza hosted Amin Tabatabaei and Parham Maghsoodloo in Brest.

For similar cases, the ‘talent passport’ is available. This status grants residency rights to foreigners with ‘national or international fame’. Tabatabaei and Maghsoodloo filed documents for citizenship change. Brest mayor Stephane Roudaut and French chess federation president Eloi Relange sent support letters in favor of their applications.

The Finistere prefecture rejected Tabatabaei’s application. The prefecture stated that Tabatabaei’s fame is not confirmed and raised the question of his financial resources. Parham Maghsoodloo, who arrived in France in April 2026, awaits a response from the prefecture.

Reza Salami commented on the Finistere prefecture’s decision:

Reza Salami

Reza Salami

Former Brest deputy mayor

“At this level, finances are not a problem! Every time he participates in a tournament, he receives between 5,000 and 10,000 euros.

He would have earned much more if he could have gone to Hong Kong for the World Team Rapid & Blitz, where he was invited, but where he could not go for administrative reasons.”

Amin Tabatabaei is Iran’s No. 1 and World’s No. 27. In his career, Tabatabaei won elite opens such as Biel Master Open 2019, Aeroflot Open 2024, and Reykjavik Open 2026, and reached the quarterfinals at the FIDE Chess World Cup 2021.

Credit: Anastasiia Korolkova / FIDE