Iran Protests Unabated; U.S. Government Plans to Resume Deportation of Iranian Immigrants

(Tehran, 25th) — According to an Iranian-American non-governmental organization, despite previous protests in Iran that resulted in thousands of deaths and have yet to fully subside, the Trump administration still plans to deport Iranian immigrants.

Agence France-Presse reports that this will be the first batch of deportation flights to Iran since the outbreak of large-scale protests. The protests peaked in early January and were subsequently violently suppressed.

U.S. President Trump had repeatedly threatened to launch military strikes against Iran in response to the crackdown, but later seemed to retract these threats, stating that Tehran had suspended its original execution plans.

The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) said Thursday (January 22) that they have learned the Trump administration plans to resume deportation flights to Iran.

NIAC Chairman Abdi said, "At a time when Iran is suffering from brutal suppression, it is this very government, which once promised Iranian people 'help is on the way,' that is now forcibly sending Iranians back into danger."
Mehrahbadi, a diplomat representing Iran's interests in the U.S., told IRNA on Saturday (24th) that about 40 Iranians will be deported.

He said they will depart Sunday (25th) from an airport in Phoenix, Arizona.

According to a statement issued by the migrants' rights organization representing them, the American Immigration Council, among these 40 people are two gay men facing the death penalty. In Iran, homosexual acts are punishable by death.

The organization said the two men are currently detained at an immigration detention center in Arizona, and the legal proceedings to prevent their deportation are still ongoing.