A 2nd Flight Of Iranian Deportees Has Left The U.S., Iran Says
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Washington reportedly plans to send hundreds of prisoners back to the Islamic Republic, while Iranian officials said a second plane carrying Iranians deported from the United States has left the United States.
The deportations come at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are high. America bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities in June during Tehran’s 12-day war with Israel. Activists abroad have also expressed concern about the return of those deported to Iran, whose theocracy has cracked down on intellectuals and executed prisoners at a rate not seen in decades.
In a report published on Monday by the Mizan news agency, the official mouthpiece of the Iranian judiciary, Iranian Foreign Ministry official Mojtaba Shasti Karimi was quoted as admitting that 55 Iranians were deported.
“These people announced their desire to return following the continuation of the United States’ anti-immigration and discriminatory policy against foreign nationals, especially Iranians,” Karimi was quoted as saying.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei also said in a statement on Sunday that 55 Iranians have plans to return to the Islamic Republic.
“The Iranians were sent back to their country for legal reasons and violations of immigration regulations,” Baghaei said, citing US claims.
The U.S. government did not immediately confirm the deportation flight, and it was unclear whether the plane had yet arrived in Tehran. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press early Monday.
The deportations represent a conflict with President Donald Trump’s top priority – Targeting illegal immigration – Opposes the US practice of welcoming Iranian dissidents, exiles and others for decades since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
In September, Iranian officials acknowledged that there were up to 400 Iranians It could be extradited under Trump administration policy. That same month, the first such flight arrived in Tehran.
Before and after the 1979 revolution, a great Many Iranians fled to the USA. In the decades since, the United States has been sensitive about allowing those fleeing Iran due to religious, sexual or political persecution to obtain residence permits. Iran has argued that only those facing criminal charges will face prosecution, while others can travel freely. However, Tehran has in the past detained Westerners and others with foreign connections to be exchanged through prisoner exchanges.
Iran has criticized Washington in the past for hosting dissidents and others. US federal prosecutors have accused Iran of hiring hitmen to target dissidents in America.
Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
