KERMAN, Iran — Six Afghan migrants were killed and four others injured in a traffic accident in southeastern Iran, Iranian media reported on Friday.
The incident occurred when a Peugeot 405 sedan carrying the migrants overturned on the Baghin-Bardsir highway in Kerman province, according to local authorities.
The deputy head of the Iranian Red Crescent’s rescue and relief department in Kerman said emergency teams transported the injured to Qaem Hospital in Bardsir for treatment.
The crash comes amid a reported rise in human smuggling activities through Kerman province, which has become a key transit point for migrants from Afghanistan and Pakistan seeking to move further into Iran or beyond.
According to Iranian media, authorities arrested more than 1,800 migrants in Kerman province between March 2024 and March 2025, underscoring the growing pressures at Iran’s borders as regional instability continues to drive migration.
Kerman’s strategic location, linking southern and eastern Iran, has made it a focal point for both legal and illicit cross-border movements. Iranian officials have stepped up enforcement operations, but human rights groups warn that many migrants remain vulnerable to exploitation, accidents, and abuse during their journeys.
