Sheila Mortazavi, partner, Hunton Andrews Kurth. (Courtesy photo)

After a U.S. drone strike killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and Tehran lobbed missiles in retaliation, Iranian American attorneys practicing in the United States are waiting to see how the conflict could potentially affect their practices.

"There's going to be a reluctance to travel, especially with the people last weekend who were detained at the borders, subjected to additional scrutiny and asked about their political beliefs," said Sheila Mortazavi, a partner at Hunton Andrews Kurth and a board member of the New York chapter of the Iranian American Bar Association, referring to reports of detentions of Iranians and Iranian Americans on the U.S.-Canada border last weekend.

"It makes me nervous and uncomfortable, and I'm sure a lot of people in the [Iranian American] community feel the same," she said in an interview. Mortazavi added that since the developments are relatively recent, there hasn't been an impact on her work so far and she hasn't had to address the issue with her firm or clients.

More broadly, Mortazavi said the Iranian American community as a whole was concerned, and many were unsure of what to expect as tensions increased. She highlighted the work of the IABA, which has worked to mobilize the community and is organizing events.

Fara Tabatabai, a partner at Hughes Hubbard & Reed and president of the New York chapter of the IABA, said in an email that she was concerned about the reports of the detentions in Washington State and encouraged everyone to view the association's updated "know your rights" advisory.

"Even among Iranian American lawyers who are familiar with those protections, however, there is a great deal of fear and confusion about how this conflict will play out and whether we are only seeing the beginning of discriminatory practices that target U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents of Iranian descent," Tabatabai wrote.

After the U.S. killing of the Iranian general on Jan. 3 raised fears of a quickly intensifying conflict, Iran retaliated with missile strikes Tuesday on two bases in Iraq hosting U.S. troops. President Donald Trump signaled Tuesday that tensions between the U.S. and Iran were deescalating, although an Iranian commander on Thursday vowed "harsher revenge" against the U.S., according to CBS news.

Tabatabai noted that she and many other Iranian Americans have family in Iran who have suffered under sanctions and now face new threats of war. "This is a difficult time for Iranian Americans and Iranians around the world," Tabatabai wrote. "For those of us in the U.S., there are justifiable concerns about rising discrimination against people of Iranian descent."

Mortazavi said she shared those worries.

"Everything we've worked for may be at risk because of where we were born, and that doesn't seem right," she said. "I wish and pray that enough people recognize what's happening and work to put a stop to it."

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