Afghan migrants in Iran are reporting mounting restrictions and growing fears of deportation, as the Iranian government moves forward with a plan to expel millions of undocumented migrants. According to senior Iranian officials, a new proposal governing the status of Afghan migrants is expected to be reviewed by Iran’s parliament in the coming days.
Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran’s National Security Commission, stated that the plan would give the government broader authority over Afghan migrants’ affairs. “The scheme will go through various stages of parliament, and once approved, it will grant the government authority to regulate Afghan migrants,” Azizi said. He added that undocumented migrants would face severe consequences if they fail to comply with deportation orders.
According to Iranian media reports, the government plans to deport around two million Afghan migrants by the end of the current solar year, which concludes in March 2025. This initiative was first introduced under former President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in May 2023.
“There is an extent to our hospitality,” Azizi warned, underscoring the government’s determination to act against undocumented migrants. “Undocumented foreigners must cooperate with the new security plans for their exit, and any failure to comply will be treated as a serious offense.”
Migrants face growing hostility
The Iranian government has frequently offered conflicting numbers regarding the total population of Afghan migrants in the country, but estimates range in the millions. Reports of restrictions have also intensified, as local officials impose harsh measures on Afghan communities. In Kerman, a southern city in Iran, bakeries have reportedly been instructed not to sell bread to Afghan migrants, according to a local attorney’s office. Furthermore, school principals in Kerman have been ordered not to enroll Afghan students, a policy that has alarmed human rights activists.
The situation has raised alarm among Afghan migrants and human rights groups alike. “For over three years, many Afghans have fled to Iran to escape threats to their lives in Afghanistan,” said Nadima Atayi, an Afghan human rights activist based in Iran. “But recently, Iran has imposed a series of forced deportation plans and severe restrictions on us.”
Migrants also report that the Iranian government is increasingly tightening control over essential services for refugees. “Our bank cards, SIM cards, and even census documents have been canceled,” said Somaiya, an Afghan migrant. “The government has made it clear that we are only allowed to stay in Iran until the end of this year. After that, we must return to Afghanistan. This is a serious threat to many Afghans living here.”
Taliban-run media reports returning families
Amid growing tensions, the Taliban’s media arm reported on Sunday that 36 Afghan families returned from Iran through the Islam Qala and Silk Path border crossings in a single day. While the Taliban has not commented publicly on the situation in Iran, the flow of returnees suggests an increasing number of Afghans may be forced back into the country under challenging circumstances.
Iran has long been a destination for Afghan refugees, with many fleeing war, political instability, and economic hardship in their homeland. However, with the new deportation plan, the future for Afghans in Iran appears uncertain, as the Iranian government tightens its stance on undocumented migrants.
