Intensified Removal of Afghan Migrants by Iranian Authorities
In the heart of Iran, a tense silence envelops the life of Mohammed, a 41-year-old Afghan migrant, hidden away in a private garden. Estranged from the world, Mohammed lives in constant fear of getting caught by Iran's police, detained, and sent back to Afghanistan under the Taliban rule. Moved by necessity, he works as a caretaker, while his wife handles the household chores and their two boys nervously navigate the streets on their way to school.
"I can't return to Afghanistan," Mohammed lamented, his voice tinged with apprehension. "My life would be at risk there. My family would be without protection, and there would be no employment opportunities."
Iran, inundated by influxes of Afghan refugees seeking refuge from decades of conflict, is reported to host more than 6 million Afghans, making it the world's largest refugee-hosting country according to UNHCR estimates[1]. But Iran claims their true number could be higher.
The Iranian government is now vowing to accelerate the mass deportation of these refugees, driven by the country's severe economic crisis, deteriorating public sentiment, and the need to take a regional approach to the situation.
Adviser Nader Yarahmadi has announced the expulsion of over 1.2 million Afghans between March 2024 and March 2025[2]. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, who recently visited Kabul, hinted at a "gradual and dignified" deportation process in coordination with the Taliban[3].
Iran's decision to deport Afghans has been met with international criticism, mirroring similar measures taken by neighboring Pakistan[4]. Iran's officials claim that Afghanistan must properly admit and reintegrate its citizens. The fear, however, is that these forced returns might sow the seeds of a social crisis in both countries[3].
This mass deportation becomes a double-edged sword, proposing potential challenges for Iran's economy. Afghans have been an essential labor force in Iran, contributing to the country's development in construction, agriculture, and services. Their sudden removal might lead to labor shortages, increased labor costs, and a slowdown in economic activities heavily reliant on Afghan labor[5].
While some Afghans, like 22-year-old Morteza, born to Afghan parents in Iran, have formed strong identities with Iranian culture, many others, including Mohammed, are apprehensive about going back to Afghanistan. "I have always been treated fairly at school and was never singled out for being an Afghan," Morteza shared[6]. "After I graduate, I prefer to live and work here. This is the place I consider home."
The impact of these deportations, however, stretches deeper than just economics. Many deportees face harsh treatment during deportation and struggle with uncertain and precarious futures on their return to Afghanistan[7]. It is a silent exodus, a separation from a life that both the deportees and the Iranian people have grown accustomed to living side by side.
[1] https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/94338[2] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-says-deported-12-million-refugees-since-2024-2021-12-18/[3] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-62170270[4] https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/11/afghanistan-pakistan-hundreds-of-thousands-of-afghan-refugees-forcefully-returned-by-pakistan-since-2023/[5] https://www.eurasiareview.com/22112023-irans-deportation-debacle-afghan-refugees-a-hurting-economy/[6] https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-iran-europe-7f35f40fdba8fa768499d6c3ed8d565d[7] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/24/afghanistan-iran-agree-to-cooperate-on-coordinated-return-of-refugees
"The impending deportations have stirred political discussions, with critics arguing that the mass expulsion of Afghans could lead to economic instability within Iran."
"The economy, already strained, is at risk of snags due to the potential labor shortages and increased labor costs, as Afghans have been a vital workforce in Iran's construction, agriculture, and service sectors."
"These deportations extend beyond economics, impacting the general-news landscape with the peaceful coexistence of Iranians and Afghans coming to an end, prompting concerns about crime and justice in the region."
