Washington: The Trump administration allegedly provided the Iranian government with confidential information about Iranians seeking asylum in the US, according to a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday by a civil rights organization.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund accused the US government of reaching an agreement with Iranian authorities last year to periodically "share the information and immigration files of Iranians" held in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), NBC News reported.

The lawsuit claims that since March last year, US officials have "periodically mailed or hand-delivered" immigration records containing sensitive information to Iranian authorities.

Michael Kirkpatrick, an attorney representing the nonprofit, stated that the information shared with officials pertains to asylum seekers, including pro-democracy activists, members of religious communities such as Evangelical Christians, and other vulnerable communities seeking refuge in the US "because of the grave dangers they face in Iran."

The lawsuit alleges that disclosing the confidential information violates the asylum seekers' rights and endangers them and their relatives and acquaintances, potentially exposing them to persecution, torture, and death if they return to Iran.

In a statement provided to NBC, the US Department of Homeland Security denied the accusations, describing them as "false."

The plaintiffs are seeking a court ruling to declare the alleged agreement unlawful and to allow affected Iranian detainees to reopen their immigration cases.

The US and Iran do not have diplomatic ties, and Washington does not typically coordinate with Tehran on immigration matters.