Secret War-Time Talks Reveal Plan to Deport Iranians via Third Country

Court records released on Thursday reveal that the Trump administration negotiated with Iranian officials on deporting citizens while a war raged between the two nations.

The unsealed documents indicate that the government discussed using an unnamed third country as a transit point for these removals as recently as mid-October. The administration stated it had specific plans in place for these transfers, though the timeline for execution remained undefined at the time of the filing. This coordination occurred despite the active conflict and the President’s recent characterization of Iran as a lawless enemy state.

Judge Ana Reyes questioned the safety of these plans during a hearing on October 15. She noted that the President had described Iran as a country where tens of thousands of protestors were murdered just days prior. Reyes asked if the United States intended to send individuals to a region facing a serious threat of certain death. A Justice Department attorney confirmed the government was executing lawful orders of removal. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the findings.

The lawsuit alleges that U.S. immigration agencies shared confidential data with the Iranian government, violating national regulations and endangering asylum seekers. Filings describe a coordinated effort to identify Iranians in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody and pressure them to return. This represents a sharp break from decades of diplomatic hostility between the two governments. The agency has denied sharing asylum application records with Tehran, but the new documents suggest contact continued throughout the war.

Emails exchanged between U.S. officials detailed the logistics for moving more than 100 Iranians back to their home country. These individuals were transported on three separate immigration flights in September and December 2025, and again in January 2026. The records show the two sides worked together to arrange these flights. Historically, deportations to Iran have been rare due to the lack of formal diplomatic ties and the risk of persecution for returnees.

The administration has pursued aggressive deportation measures during this term, including sending people to countries with which the U.S. has limited or no diplomatic relations. In some cases, migrants have been sent to third nations that have accepted noncitizens from the United States. Countries such as El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Panama have taken in deportees under this policy. In June, an Iranian woman was included in a group of two dozen migrants sent to the Central African Republic. This approach allows the government to bypass diplomatic hurdles with governments that are reluctant to accept their own citizens back.

Advocates for migrants have raised concerns about the safety of returnees in Iran. They point to the theocratic government’s crackdown on intellectuals and its suppression of dissent as key risks. The court ordered the government to provide 24-hour notice to the judge before finalizing any deportation plans to Iran or another country. The government must also give five days’ written notice before carrying out any such removal. This procedural requirement aims to give the court time to review the safety of the destination before the flights depart.