Washington: The US deported a second chartered flight of Iranian nationals to Iran on Sunday, marking another rare coordinated return between Washington and Tehran despite decades without diplomatic ties, The New York Times reported.

According to Anadolu Agency, two Iranian officials cited by the newspaper indicated that the flight, carrying approximately 50 Iranian citizens, departed from Mesa, Arizona. The flight also included deportees from Arab countries and Russia, making stops in Egypt and Kuwait before proceeding to Tehran.

Iran's Foreign Ministry consular director, Mojtaba Shasti Karimi, informed local media that Tehran anticipated around 55 returnees. He mentioned that the individuals agreed to return due to 'the racist and anti-immigration policies' of the US government and referenced reports of 'inhumane' treatment while in US immigration custody.

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not comment on the situation, while a US official described the operation as a routine deportation flight.

As news of the flight surfaced, Representative Yassamin Ansari, an Iranian-American Democrat from Arizona, expressed concerns on social media that the deportation could involve 'vulnerable individuals who could face persecution' upon returning to Iran.

This flight follows a similar deportation that occurred in September, aligning with the Trump administration's strategy of large-scale removals, as reported by The New York Times.