The United States has initiated the deportation of approximately 400 Iranian nationals as part of President Donald Trump's expansive immigration enforcement efforts. The process, which involves a stopover in Qatar, marks an uncommon instance of logistical coordination between Washington and Tehran, despite ongoing bilateral strains.
The first contingent of 120 individuals departed from Louisiana on a U.S.-chartered flight on Monday, arriving in Qatar late Tuesday before transferring to a flight bound for Tehran. This group is expected to reach Iran within one or two days.
Most of those being deported entered the United States without documentation, primarily via Mexico, though some hold residence permits and face other immigration violations. The deportees include both convicted criminals and those who crossed the border illegally.
Iranian officials described the deportations as a unilateral U.S. decision aligned with the administration's anti-immigrant policies, emphasizing that no political consultations occurred.
Hossein Noushabadi, director general for parliamentary and consular affairs at Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the transfers were handled without prior discussions with Tehran. He urged Washington to uphold the rights of Iranian migrants.
However, reports indicate underlying negotiations shaped the arrangement. Some deportees volunteered to return after prolonged detention, while others did not.
This development follows a June conflict in which the U.S. supported Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets, including nuclear facilities, exacerbating diplomatic frictions over Tehran's nuclear program, which Iran insists is civilian.
The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, noted it was not consulted and stressed general principles: states must guarantee asylum access, due process, and non-refoulement to prevent returns to harmful environments.
Since reassuming office in January, Trump has vowed the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, targeting record numbers amid elevated border crossings during the prior administration. Yet, implementation has faced hurdles, prompting innovative repatriation routes.
In February, the U.S. leveraged an agreement with Panama to deport 119 individuals from various nations, including Iranians, to that country. These efforts reflect a strategy to expedite removals through third-country partnerships, even as overall deportation volumes lag behind ambitions.
The White House and State Department have not commented on the Iranian deportations. Qatari authorities also offered no immediate response regarding the transit arrangements.