US citizenship isn’t necessary to be drafted into war in Iran for a particular reason.
With reports continuing to circulate that a draft may take place amid escalating tensions across the Middle East, due to the Iran war, some questions have arisen over who would be eligible and ineligible to be drafted for military service.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt recently refused to rule out that Americans could be enrolled in the military as part of the war effort.
President Trump may have claimed that a peace deal is on the verge of being brokered, but the Iranian regime refutes these claims and has continued to engage in retaliatory strikes against Israel.
The 79-year-old said to reporters gathered in Palm Beach, Florida, per the Guardian: “We’re giving it five days, and then we’re going to see where that takes us. And I would say at the end of this period, I think it could very well end up being a very good deal for everybody.”
In response to Trump’s statement, Iran’s Fars News Agency posted to Telegram, dismissing Trump’s claims of peace talks.
“Informed officials in Iran announced that there were no negotiations and emphasised that until the US completely withdrew, evacuated its bases in the region, paid compensation, and received valid guarantees not to repeat the aggression, neither would the war end nor would the Strait of Hormuz be reopened.
“According to this report, even after the possible end of the war, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will not return to the pre-war situation”.
Who is exempt from a potential draft?
There has not been a military draft in the United States since the Vietnam War, in 1973.
However, should a military draft become a reality for the first time in over 50 years, there are some people who would receive an exemption.
There are: Non-immigrant men in the US on student, tourist, visitor, or diplomatic visas, men serving on active duty, cadets or midshipmen at US service academies, and certain military colleges are not required to register.
Despite there being an expectation that they would be exempt, members of the clergy and students training for the ministry must also register. At the time of writing, registration is only mandatory for men.
America may not have drafted anyone since the early 1970s, but because an amended version of the National Defense Authorization Act was passed in December 2025, this incorporated automatic registration with the Selective Service for certain Americans.
“Under existing legislation, all male US citizens and male immigrants between 18 and 25 must register with the Selective Service System, a database utilised to monitor those who might be summoned to serve in the US Army should a draft be reintroduced,” per the Mirror.
The recent amendment would allow the US government to automatically enrol eligible males into the army rather than them self-registering.
How likely is a draft?
In reality, an actual draft for the Iran war is not that likely at this moment in time. However, with plenty of unpredictable things happening during Trump’s second term as President, it is hard to know for sure what is on and off the table.
Any attempt to return to the draft system would need to be passed by Congress as well as needing Trump’s signature.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in response to a question from host Maria Bartiromo during a recent appearance on Fox, ‘President Trump wisely does not remove options off of the table.’
She stated: “The president, as commander in chief, wants to continue to assess the success of this military operation.
“As commander in chief, there’s no greater priority or responsibility to this president than, of course, protecting the American people and protecting our troops and our bases in the Middle East, which Iran has been threatening for 47 years.”
Leavitt did note that a draft was ‘not part of the current plan,’ however.
Why are undocumented citizens not exempt from being drafted into war?
There was an expectation that undocumented citizens would not need to register for the Selective Service System.
However, this does not appear to be the case.
Not only do all male US citizens between the ages of 18 and 25 need to register, but undocumented males also must sign up. This means immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers are required to register from the same age group.
In the frequently asked questions section of the Selective Service System website it reads: “Yes. All undocumented males 18 through 25 years of age, other than those admitted on non-immigrant visas, must register, whether or not they have a green card.”
Thirteen American service members have already died during the 24 days of war in Iran, so far.
