The Trump administration is preparing to deport dozens of Iranian nationals on Sunday, December 7, 2025, in what will be the second flight under a rare agreement between the U.S and Iran.
The move comes despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries and has sparked alarm among human rights advocates.
This is the first such flight in September, following a significant shift in U.S. immigration enforcement targeting Iranian citizens.
More Scheduled Deportations to Iran
Iranian authorities have indicated that as many as 400 Iranians could be deported in the coming months under this arrangement.
The individuals scheduled for removal include men and women who entered the United States seeking asylum.
Many of the individuals fled Iran to escape political persecution, religious discrimination, or harsh penalties for LGBTQ identities.
Iran’s penal code prescribes severe punishments for homosexuality, including the death penalty, and imposes restrictions on political dissent and freedom of expression.
However, human rights organizations have condemned the Trump’s administration deportation plan, warning that returnees face serious risks upon arrival in Iran.
The National Iranian American Council has urged the administration to stop the flight, citing violations of international human rights norms.
“Sending these individuals back to Iran is not only dangerous but unconscionable,” the group said in a statement.
In an interview with CNN, one Iranian national scheduled for deportation described distressing experiences before fleeing the country.
The individual, who identifies as LGBTQ, said they were tortured and raped in Iran and fear execution if returned.
Their asylum application remains unresolved, raising questions about due process and the handling of vulnerable populations in U.S. immigration courts.
The situation is well explained in the U.S’ latest human rights report, where it lists “significant human rights issues” in Iran, including arbitrary detention, torture, restrictions on political freedoms, and systemic discrimination against minorities and LGBTQ individuals.
Advocacy groups argue that deporting asylum seekers to such conditions violates U.S. obligations under international law.
Defiant Trump
The Trump administration has defended its actions as part of a broader immigration enforcement strategy.
President Donald Trump earlier said that the agreement with Iran is intended to address individuals with final removal orders who have exhausted legal remedies.
However, Trump’s critics argue that many of those targeted have pending asylum claims or were denied fair hearings.
They argue that deportations to countries with documented human rights abuses are rare and often subject to judicial review.
In this case, the lack of transparency surrounding the agreement and the speed of implementation has fueled concerns among immigration attorneys and civil rights advocates.
Unforgettable History
The United States and Iran have maintained a hostile relationship for decades, marked by sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and periodic confrontations.
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The tension began after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, when Iran’s new leaders overthrew the U.S.-backed Shah.
Soon after, Iranian students stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran, holding American diplomats hostage for 444 days.
In the 1980s, the U.S. supported Iraq during its war with Iran, deepening animosity. Later, disputes over Iran’s nuclear program led to heavy sanctions and global isolation.
A brief period of calm came with the 2015 nuclear deal, but relations collapsed when the Trump administration withdrew in 2018 and reimposed sanctions.
Events like the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in 2020 pushed hostility to new heights.
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The next deportation flight is a rare U.S.-Iran cooperation despite decades of hostility.
Iranian officials confirm more flights are planned under the arrangement, while legal and human rights challenges continue in U.S. courts as advocates seek to block future deportations.
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