WANA (Jan 24) – Abolfazl Mehrabadi, the head of the Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Washington, announced that approximately 40 Iranian nationals currently in U.S. custody are scheduled to depart for Iran on Sunday, January 25, 2026.

 

In an interview on Saturday, Mehrabadi confirmed that the group will depart from Mesa Airport in Arizona. The repatriation route includes a brief stopover in Egypt before proceeding to Iran via Kuwait.

 

Context of the Deportations

The move comes as part of the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement, a cornerstone of his campaign platform. This marks the third group of Iranians to be deported under these stricter policies.

 

The administration’s “zero-tolerance” approach—utilising the National Guard and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents—has sparked significant tension. Recent reports highlight violent clashes and protests in states like Minnesota as authorities move to deport undocumented individuals.

 

Legal Background and Prisoner Status

Mehrabadi previously had noted that the Interests Section has spent the last eight to nine months facilitating these repatriations in accordance with the Vienna Convention and the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.

 

He categorised the detainees into two primary groups:

  • Illegal Entry: Individuals who were apprehended shortly after entering the U.S. without authorisation.
  • Long-term Residents: Individuals who held permanent residency, were married to U.S. citizens, or held citizenship, but were detained by ICE following criminal convictions. Some have been in custody for up to two years.

 

Voluntary Return

According to Mehrabadi, the vast majority of these individuals expressed a desire to return to Iran during in-person consular visits. “In our meetings with these citizens, the overwhelming majority indicated they are eager to return home,” he stated.

 

Arrest

Iranian Doctor Arrested by U.S. Immigration Agents

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