U.S. Deports Second Batch of Iranians Amid Ongoing Tensions
The U.S. has deported a second planeload of around 55 Iranian nationals, according to reports. The deportations come amidst high tensions between the U.S. and Iran, and coincide with the trial of a dual-national accused of spying for Israel.
Deportation Deal
The plane carrying the deportees, which included other unspecified nationals, departed from Arizona on Sunday as per a deal reached with Iran under the Trump administration two months ago. The Iranian Foreign Ministry official, Mojtaba Shasti Karimi, was quoted acknowledging the deportation of 55 Iranians. These individuals announced their willingness for return following continuation of anti-immigration and discriminative policy against foreign nationals particularly Iranians by the United States,
the foreign official reportedly claimed.
Iranian Nationals Freed from U.S. Detention
According to Iran's IRNA English, Abulfazl Mehrabadi, caretaker head of Iran’s Interests Section in Washington, DC, confirmed that 50 Iranian nationals freed from US detention have already departed the country on their way to Iran. The exact discrepancy in the number of deportees as reported by IRNA and other sources remains unclear.
Dual National on Trial for Espionage
Simultaneously, Iran has begun the trial of a dual national, a European citizen, accused of intelligence cooperation and espionage in favor of the Zionist regime (Israel),
as reported by the Middle East Eye and The Times of Israel. The individual was arrested by Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards during the 12-day conflict in June, a month after they had entered Iran. Sophisticated spy and intelligence items and equipment were discovered in their villa in Karaj,
stated the Alborz provincial attorney general. The charges carry penalties for waging war against God
and corruption on earth,
offenses that are often punishable by death in Iran.
The Ongoing U.S.-Iran Tensions
The deportation of Iranians and the concurrent espionage trial underscore the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran. The Trump administration had been vocal about its anti-immigration policies, which have often been perceived as discriminatory against certain nationalities, including Iranians. The dual national's arrest and trial occur in a context of heightened tensions following strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities by Israel and the U.S.
The Current Status
The second batch of deportees has already left U.S. soil, as confirmed by both U.S. and Iranian officials. However, the fate of the dual national accused of espionage hangs in the balance as their trial progresses in Iran. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has yet to comment on the deportations. Meanwhile, the overall U.S.-Iran relations remain strained, with both nations locked in a cycle of accusations and retaliations.