Iranians held on US immigration charges will be deported

400 Iranians would be returning to Iran as part of deal with US

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The United States will deport hundreds of Iranians back to Iran in the coming weeks, with the first 120 deportees being prepared for a flight in the next day or two, Iran said yesterday.

The deportation of Iranians, not yet publicly acknowledged by the US government, comes as tensions remain high between the two countries, following the American bombings of Iranian nuclear sites in June.

Meanwhile, the United Nations reimposed sanctions on Iran this past week over its nuclear programme.

The deportations also represent a top priority of President Donald Trump — targeting illegal immigration — against a decades-long practice by the US of welcoming Iranian dissidents, exiles and others since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.