Iran says 120 of its nationals are being deported from the US, as part of President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration.

These individuals will return to the country within the next one or two days, Iranian foreign ministry official Hossein Noushabadi told Iran's Tasnim state news agency.

He indicated that most of those being flown to Iran, via Qatar, had entered the US illegally—primarily through Mexico.

There has been an increase in the number of Iranians entering the US in recent years, many of whom fear persecution in their home country.

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson stated, The Trump administration is committed to fulfilling President Trump's promise to carry out the largest mass deportation operation of illegal aliens in history, using all the tools at our disposal.

Noushabadi claimed some deportees held valid US residency permits and mentioned that US officials had sought their consent for return.

He called on the US government to respect the rights of Iranian migrants and their citizenship rights under international law.

According to reports, the flight of deportees is expected to arrive in Iran later on Tuesday.

This operation represents a rare instance of cooperation between Iran and the US, which lack formal diplomatic ties.

Noushabadi further noted that under this agreement, around 400 Iranian nationals are projected to be deported from the US, with this flight marking the initial phase.

The US has previously established deportation agreements with various countries, as seen with Panama and Costa Rica recently taking in several hundred migrants.

President Trump has pledged to limit immigration to the US, including deporting individuals to countries known for their contentious human rights records.

His administration's plans for mass deportation have faced significant criticism from human rights organizations, who warn that deported individuals may be sent back to countries where they could be at risk of harm.

Critically, the Iranian regime has faced backlash over its human rights practices, with UN experts reporting a notable rise in executions this year. While the Iranian government defends its capital punishment policy, claiming that it applies only to severe crimes, human rights advocates dispute these assertions.