Amid media reports that Afghan refugees in Iran are facing increasing persecution by Iranian officials, Iran's Interior Minister Iskander Momeni disclosed in an interview on February 1, 2025, that, since March 2024, Tehran has deported 1.1 million Afghan refugees.[1]
An earlier statement by Iran's Chief Commander of Law Enforcement (FARAJA) had noted that the number of Afghan refugees deported by Iran is expected to reach two million by the end of the current solar year, ending March 20, 2025.[2]
While Afghans generally migrate to Iran in search of jobs, the number of Afghan refugees in Iran rose after the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA, i.e., the Afghan Taliban) took over Kabul in August 2021. Simultaneously, Iranian officials began rounding up Afghan refugees and deporting them back to Afghanistan. "Afghans are being deported, and even if you have a passport, some of their officers tear it up and say you have no documents at all, and then they send you to a detention camp," one Afghan migrant said.[3]
Afghan refugees deported by Iran (image: Amu.tv)
According to a media report, Afghan refugees in Iran say that, in addition to their economic challenges, issues such as the disconnection of SIM cards add to their problems. "The disconnection of SIM cards and bank cards is among the issues worth mentioning. According to the new regulations of the Ministry of Roads and Transportation, Afghan migrants must pay higher amounts to use buses," said Asadullah Zairi, one of the migrants in Iran.[4]
Hossein Sharafati, director-general of foreign nationals and migrants in Khorasan Razavi province of Iran, noted in an interview that even "legal" Afghan migrants do not have the right to reside or work. "None of the Afghan nationals, whether authorized or unauthorized, have the right to reside or work in the seven border cities of the province, and identifying these individuals has become a priority for relevant authorities," Sharafati said.[5]
Following are excerpts from a media report based on the statement of Iran's Interior Minister Iskander Momeni who confirmed the deportation of 1.1 million Afghans:[6]
A screenshot of the report published by Khaama.com
"Iskandar Momeni, Iran's Minister of the Interior, announced on Saturday, February 1, that since the beginning of March last year [2024], 1.1 million Afghan refugees have been sent back to Afghanistan from Iran.
"Momeni made these remarks during a special interview with Iran's state television, IRIB News. He highlighted that, as of now, there are six million foreign nationals living in Iran. He also pointed out that two million of these people are residing in Iran illegally, even for short-term stays.
"Minister Momeni reminded that there are limited job opportunities available for both refugees and local citizens. Furthermore, international assistance to address the needs of the migrant population is still lacking.
"Although Afghan migrants have historically been present in Iran, the number of migrants has increased significantly since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. Factors such as a lack of job opportunities, poverty, insecurity, and ethnic discrimination under Taliban rule have forced many Afghan citizens to flee their homeland.
"The large number of Afghan refugees in Iran is placing immense pressure on the country's resources. With limited opportunities for both refugees and local populations, Iran faces a challenging situation. The need for international cooperation to support both the migrants and host communities is becoming more urgent.
Given the ongoing political instability in Afghanistan, long-term solutions to the refugee crisis are necessary. International organizations and governments must work together to create sustainable plans that support refugees while addressing the root causes of displacement, such as conflict and lack of opportunity in Afghanistan."
