Iran Lures Transgender Foreigners for Surgery but Forces Operations on Locals NYT | Top Stories Pranav Baskar and Leily Nikounazar 10 October 2025 at 17:00 Iran became a pioneer in gender transition operations by forcing procedures on L.G.B.T.Q. Iranians. Desperate for cash, the Islamic republic is hoping to attract trans patients from around the world. © Arash Khamooshi for The New York Times“The situation for trans people is dire,” said Saman Arastu, a transgender Iranian man.