Third Group of Iranians Deported by US Returns to Tehran Amid Heightened Tensions
Another politically charged expulsion underscores Washington’s hostile migration policy as US military presence rises near Iran
Iran, PUREWILAYAH.COM — A third group of Iranian nationals forcibly deported from the United States has returned to Iran, Iranian state-aligned media reported Monday, marking the latest in a series of politically motivated expulsions carried out amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Fourteen members of the newest group arrived at Imam Khomeini International Airport on Monday after traveling via Cairo and Kuwait, according to semi-official Tasnim news agency, with more expected to arrive in the coming weeks.
Politicized Deportations Reflect Anti-Iran, Anti-Migrant Policy
Iranian officials have condemned what they say are politically driven deportations under the current US administration, describing them as discriminatory, in violation of international law, and part of a broader hostile agenda against Iran and its citizens.
This third wave follows earlier repatriations last year: the first group of 120 Iranian nationals returned in September, and another group of 55 was sent back in December.
Iran’s foreign ministry has said deportations were carried out under “political grounds and anti-migrant policies,” rejecting Washington’s narrative that they were routine immigration enforcement.
Iranian officials and domestic commentators argue the deportations are part of a broader US strategy that seeks to weaken Iran politically, socially, and demographically at a time of intense international pressure.
Context of Rising US-Iran Tensions
The return of the latest group of deportees comes as tensions between Tehran and Washington continue to escalate sharply.
In recent days, the United States has deployed the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and support vessels to the Middle East, significantly increasing its military footprint near Iranian waters.
The buildup includes fighter jets, air defense platforms, and support aircraft, reflecting Washington’s open posture of force aimed at Tehran. Iranian officials, for their part, have warned that any attack on Iran’s sovereignty would be treated as a full-scale act of war, underscoring the severe risk of confrontation.
In Tehran, Iranian authorities have reiterated that any foreign military action — including threats linked to Iran’s internal politics or regional policies — will be met with firm resistance, reinforcing the perception among supporters of the Islamic Republic that the deportations form part of a broader US strategy of coercion and destabilization.
Deportee Conditions and Human Rights Concerns
Although Tasnim did not detail the precise number of those yet to return, the repatriations involve individuals who had been under pressure to leave the United States for several months. Reports suggest that many of those deported had faced prolonged detention, restrictions on asylum or residency applications, and coercive conditions.
Human rights advocates have criticized the United States for forcibly expelling migrants, including vulnerable individuals, particularly at a time when Iran is experiencing domestic unrest and international scrutiny over its human rights record.
Iranian officials and state media have seized on this issue to frame the deportations as a measure of American hostility not only toward Iranian migrants but toward Iran’s political independence and dignity. (PW)