US to Deport 120 Iranians Amid Controversial Immigration Deal

Sat Oct 11 2025 12:01:05 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The Iranian government announces that 120 nationals will be deported from the US as part of an immigration deal. This rare cooperation aims to address the rising number of Iranians entering the US for refuge.

In a rare agreement between the US and Iran, 120 Iranians are set to be deported back to their homeland as part of a larger initiative to manage immigration. While the deportation marks a significant collaboration between the two nations, it raises questions about the treatment and rights of Iranian nationals, especially those with valid residency permits. The Iranian government has appealed for respect of international law regarding the rights of its citizens during the immigration process.

Iran says 120 of its nationals are being deported from the US, as part of a crackdown on immigration led by President Donald Trump.

These individuals will return to the country within the next one or two days, Iranian foreign ministry official Hossein Noushabadi told Iran's Tasnim state news agency.

He indicated that most of those being returned, via Qatar, had entered the US illegally, primarily through Mexico.

There has been a notable increase in the number of Iranians entering the US in recent years, many seeking refuge from persecution.

The BBC has sought comments from the White House and the US State Department regarding this development.

Noushabadi mentioned that some deportees held valid US residency permits, and noted that US officials had sought their consent for their return.

He urged the US government to respect the rights of Iranian migrants and their citizenship rights as outlined under international law.

The New York Times reported that the flight carrying the deportees is expected to arrive in Iran later today.

This deportation is a part of an ongoing deal, coordinated through the US Interests Section at the Pakistani embassy in Tehran, which anticipates the return of around 400 Iranian nationals in total, with this flight being the first phase.

This agreement illustrates a rare instance of cooperation between the US and Iran, who do not maintain formal diplomatic relations.

The US has previously engaged in bilateral deportation agreements with several countries, such as Panama and Costa Rica, which have accepted migrants from the US under similar circumstances.

President Trump has consistently vowed to reduce immigration to the US, aiming to conduct record deportations, including individuals from nations with questioned human rights records. Details about the criminal status of the deported Iranians remain unclear.

These immigration policies have faced criticism from human rights organizations, which contend that deportees risk being sent back to environments that pose threats to their safety.

Furthermore, the Iranian regime's human rights record has come under scrutiny, with reports citing a dramatic rise in the application of the death penalty this year, which government officials claim is reserved for only the most serious offenses—a statement contested by rights advocates.