TEHRAN — A senior Iranian official said Sunday that the expulsion of Afghan migrants from Iran is a “general demand” of the country’s citizens, as the government moves forward with efforts to identify and deport undocumented individuals.
Nader Yar Ahmadi, head of Iran’s Department for Foreign Nationals and Migrants Affairs, made the remarks during a consultative meeting of provincial directors overseeing migration issues, according to Iran’s state-run IRIB news agency. He said a nationwide census of foreign citizens would be completed by the end of the year, a measure aimed at identifying undocumented individuals and addressing legal complications related to their status.
“The implementation of this plan does not create any obligation for the Iranian government regarding the presence of foreign nationals in the country,” Mr. Ahmadi said.
He added that the deportation of undocumented migrants was a widespread demand among Iranians and emphasized that all foreign nationals must reside and work in Iran legally.
Mr. Ahmadi also noted that under an agreement with the Taliban, starting next year, Afghan citizens will be allowed to enter and leave Iran only for specific events. He did not specify what types of events would qualify.
Mehdi Jamali-Nejad, the governor of Isfahan province, said at the same meeting that about 600,000 foreign nationals reside in the region, of whom between 420,000 and 430,000 have legal documentation. The rest, he said, are in the country illegally.
Iranian officials have frequently raised concerns about the large number of Afghan migrants, arguing that their presence strains the country’s resources. However, Afghan migrants and rights groups have reported instances of mistreatment and restrictions imposed by the Iranian government, adding to tensions between the two neighboring countries.
