Iran detains doctors, aid workers treating protesters - rights group

Mowlavi Abdolhamid, the Sunni Friday prayer leader of Zahedan, described the killings of protesters in Iran as an “organized massacre.”

“Despite severe internet restrictions, scenes of the harrowing and brutal killing of protesters in various provinces are gradually being published by the media, indicating an organized massacre, with further aspects of it gradually coming to light,” Abdolhamid said in a post on X.

“This catastrophe has created a deep and irreparable rift between the people of Iran and the ruling establishment,” he added.

The acting head of Iran’s Interests Section in Washington told state news agency IRNA that the group will depart from Mesa Airport in Arizona, make a brief stop in Egypt and return to Iran via Kuwait.

Abolfazl Mehrabadi added the office coordinated with US immigration authorities to issue return travel documents for the detainees.

The flight is the third to repatriate Iranian asylum seekers and others whose immigration cases were halted and who were detained by US immigration authorities for various reasons.

The planned deportation has drawn criticism in the United States, with Democratic Representatives Yassamin Ansari and Dave Min, citing human rights concerns in Iran.

Iran’s foreign ministry confirmed on December 7 that 55 Iranian nationals had been detained to be deported from the United States amid President Donald Trump’s tightened immigration policies.

On September 29, a plane carrying 120 Iranians including three women landed in Iran, an Iranian expelled from the United States told Iran International, adding that detainees had faced mistreatment in US facilities and that force was used during their transfer.

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  US deports over 100 Iranians in rare deal with Tehran - NYT

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said a US delegation met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday to discuss progress on the second phase of President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza as well as “broader regional issues.”

In a post on X Witkoff said the meeting included Jared Kushner, senior advisor Aryeh Lightstone and White House advisor Josh Gruenbaum.

"The discussion was constructive and positive, with both sides aligned on next steps and the importance of continued cooperation on all matters critical to the region," he said.

The United Arab Emirates, Jordan and the United Kingdom would provide logistical and intelligence support to the US military in the event of an attack on Iran, Israel Hayom reported.

The Israeli daily said the three countries would support US operations with intelligence sharing and logistical assistance if Washington moved ahead with military action against Iran.

According to the report, the UAE, Jordan and Britain would also be expected to take part in intercepting Iranian missiles and drones targeting Israel, US bases or strategic facilities in the region, Israel Hayom said.

Iranian authorities are still carrying out a chain of crimes linked to the protest crackdown, including extrajudicial killings, deaths under torture and the systematic mistreatment of detainees and their families, according to the executive editor of Iran International TV.

Asghar Ramezanpour said the violence has not ended with the suppression of mass demonstrations, warning that detainees face ongoing threats to their lives, denial of medical treatment and collective detention in unconventional holding facilities.

He also cited systematic harassment of families of those killed or detained, as well as continued efforts by authorities to block information from reaching the public.

Ramezanpour’s comments followed the release of a new report estimating that at least 36,500 people were killed in the crackdown on protests, with the deadliest violence concentrated on January 8 and 9, according to classified government documents seen by Iran International.