US-chartered flight repatriates Iranians to Iran in rare move

A U.S.-chartered flight carrying a group of Iranians departed from Louisiana on Monday and was scheduled to arrive in Iran via Qatar on Tuesday, U.S. and Iranian officials said, marking a rare instance of direct repatriation between the two countries. Officials described the flight as carrying roughly 100 people, while Iran’s foreign ministry later said 120 citizens would be returned and that as many as 400 Iranians could be repatriated under a larger plan.

Iranian officials said the passengers included men and women, some traveling as couples, and that the group comprised people who had entered the United States through a variety of routes. Some deportees, the officials said, had volunteered to be repatriated after months in detention, while others had not. In nearly every case, the officials added, asylum requests had either been denied or the individuals had not yet appeared before an immigration judge.

Iran’s foreign ministry said it was coordinating the returns and had offered consular assistance, with a senior ministry official quoted as saying Iran welcomed the returnees and would provide comprehensive support. The United States has not publicly confirmed details of an...