The United States has deported about 100 Iranians back to Iran in a move described as an unusual instance of cooperation between the two long-time adversaries, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.
According to the report, a U.S.-chartered plane departed Louisiana on Monday and was scheduled to land in Iran via Qatar on Tuesday. The deportation followed months of negotiations between Washington and Tehran, involving senior Iranian officials and U.S. representatives.
The White House and the State Department did not immediately comment on the development.
The New York Times said the identities of the deportees and their reasons for attempting to enter the U.S. were not clear. Some had volunteered to return after months in detention centers, while others were sent back against their will.
Iran’s foreign ministry was reportedly coordinating their return and assured that they would not face reprisals upon arrival.
The move comes as President Donald Trump pushes for record-high deportations, citing what he calls unchecked illegal migration under his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden. His administration, however, has faced difficulties in scaling up deportation levels, even as it expands avenues to transfer migrants to third countries.
Earlier in February, the U.S. deported 119 migrants from several countries, including Iran, to Panama under a separate agreement.
The latest deportation underscores both the tensions and pragmatic engagement between Washington and Tehran, even as disputes persist over nuclear policy, regional security, and sanctions.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
