Iran is facing labor shortages in key sectors following the mass deportation of Afghan migrants, according to a recent report by IranWire, which highlighted both the economic and humanitarian consequences of the government’s crackdown.
The outlet reported that more than 450,000 Afghans have been expelled from Iran in recent months, disrupting labor markets in construction, urban services, agriculture, and other physically demanding sectors where Afghan workers have long been overrepresented.
Employers interviewed by IranWire said the forced departure of Afghan laborers has caused widespread delays and suspensions in ongoing projects. “Many projects have slowed or stopped entirely,” one contractor told the outlet.
The report also described a growing humanitarian crisis tied to the expulsions. According to IranWire, more than 5,000 Afghan children were separated from their parents during the deportations, leaving many families fractured and thousands of individuals without shelter, education, health care, or identity documents.
Citing local sources, the outlet said migrants have been detained in the streets, at workplaces, or in their homes without legal review of their residency status, and then transferred to detention centers before being deported to Afghanistan. The report alleged that in many cases, Iranian authorities treated detainees with violence, humiliation, and abuse.
Iranian officials have framed the deportations as part of a broader effort to manage illegal immigration, but analysts quoted by IranWire described the campaign as politically motivated, aimed in part at deflecting domestic discontent by shifting blame to foreign populations.
Experts also warned of the broader consequences of the crackdown. While the government may be seeking short-term political gain, the report said the deportations could result in long-term economic disruptions, humanitarian instability, and security concerns inside Iran.
Iran is home to one of the world’s largest populations of Afghan migrants, many of whom have lived in the country for decades. The latest wave of expulsions has drawn criticism from international human rights organizations and members of the European Parliament, who say the deportations violate international norms and place vulnerable populations at risk.
