TEHRAN, Iran — Mohammad Sadeq Motamedian, the governor of Tehran Province, has called on undocumented Afghan migrants to voluntarily leave Iran through a self-reporting process, either individually or with their families.
Speaking to the Iranian news agency ISNA, Mr. Motamedian emphasized that deporting Afghan migrants has become a key focus for Tehran, with efforts to expedite their removal gaining momentum.
“One of the main plans of the Tehran governorate regarding migrants is the return of foreign nationals who, for various reasons, have entered the province illegally in recent months and are residing here,” he said.
Mr. Motamedian outlined a two-tier approach for addressing undocumented migrants. The first group includes those willing to voluntarily report themselves to the Khavaran Return Center, operated by the General Directorate of Foreign Nationals in Tehran. He said these migrants will be assisted in their return process, whether traveling individually or with their families.
“We have worked to accelerate the process and provide the necessary facilities to ensure their return is as smooth as possible,” he said.
The second group, according to Mr. Motamedian, consists of migrants who do not comply with the self-reporting system and continue to reside illegally in Tehran Province.
“Our warning to this group is to take the law seriously and report themselves to the designated center so their return can be facilitated legally,” he said. “Otherwise, law enforcement and other relevant agencies will take action to detain and deport them through legal channels.”
This announcement comes as Iran grapples with an influx of Afghan migrants following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, exacerbating existing pressures on infrastructure and resources. Iran has frequently called on the Taliban to address migration issues, as well as water rights disputes and other bilateral concerns.
Recently, Iran’s charge d’affaires to Kabul discussed Afghan migration during a meeting with Mullah Abdul Kabir, the Taliban’s acting deputy prime minister for political affairs. Both sides reportedly addressed efforts to regulate and manage the situation of Afghan nationals in Iran.
Iran remains one of the primary destinations for Afghan migrants, many of whom face uncertain futures amid growing enforcement measures.
