Iran to Receive Over 50 Nationals Returning from U.S.

TEHRAN: Iran announced on Sunday that over 50 of its citizens are set to return from the United States amid Washington’s ongoing immigration crackdown. “In the coming days, around 50 to 55 Iranian nationals will return,” said Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry, during his weekly press briefing. He added that this marks the second group of Iranians returning in recent months.

The group is expected to reach Iran later Sunday following a stopover in Kuwait. Baqaei criticized what he described as “racist actions against foreign nationals—particularly citizens of our region, and especially Iranians,” calling the U.S. anti-immigration measures politically motivated and in violation of human rights laws.

He explained that the Iranians, under pressure from U.S. authorities, approached the Iranian Interests Section in Washington and expressed their willingness to return home. Iran maintains this office within the Pakistani embassy in Washington to handle consular affairs, as the two countries lack formal diplomatic relations.

Read more: Iran-Pakistan Relations Enter “New Strategic Phase,” Says Iranian Ambassador

Earlier this week, U.S. authorities paused green card and citizenship processing for nationals from 19 countries, including Iran. In September, Iran reported that 120 of its nationals were deported from the U.S., and consular officials have said that around 400 Iranians could face deportation, most for entering the country illegally.