Iran says 120 of its nationals are being deported from the US, as part of President Donald Trump's immigration policies. Iranian foreign ministry official Hossein Noushabadi confirmed to the Tasnim state news agency that these individuals will return to Iran within one or two days. Most of them had reportedly entered the US illegally, primarily through Mexico.
Over the past few years, there has been a notable increase in the number of Iranians migrating to the US, many of whom are fleeing persecution in their home country.
The BBC has reached out to the White House and the US State Department for comments on the situation. Noushabadi stated that some deportees held valid US residency permits and that US officials sought their consent for return.
He urged the US government to respect the rights of Iranian migrants and emphasized their citizenship rights under international law. The New York Times indicated that a flight carrying deportees was expected to arrive in Iran shortly.
This deportation is part of a broader agreement between Iran and the US, negotiated through their Interest Section at the Pakistani embassy in Tehran, with plans for about 400 Iranians to be deported from the US. This marks a rare moment of cooperation between the two nations, who lack formal diplomatic relations.
This development comes as Trump has vowed to conduct extensive deportations, including those to countries with questionable human rights records. Critics, including human rights organizations, have voiced strong concerns regarding the risks migrants face upon return to such countries.
In recent months, Iran's human rights practices have come under scrutiny, with UN experts pointing to a surge in executions. Iranian authorities justify these measures as only being applied to the most severe crimes, a claim disputed by human rights advocates.
