Iran Expels Over 1.45 Million Afghan Migrants in Six Months
Iran’s Bureau for Foreign Nationals and Immigrants Affairs has announced that more than 1.45 million Afghan migrants have been forcibly deported from the country during the first six months of the Persian year 1403.
According to Nader Yarahmadi, the head of the bureau, the repatriation of Afghan migrants is ongoing, and the Islamic Republic of Iran plans to expel a similar number in the near future.
He added that currently around 4.5 million Afghan migrants—both documented and undocumented—reside in Iran, and the Iranian government has adopted a stricter approach toward them.
The bureau also reported that around 80,000 marriages have been registered between Afghan and Iranian citizens. Including their children, this mixed population totals approximately 250,000 people. Yarahmadi noted that children from these unions are eligible for Iranian identification documents if one parent holds Iranian citizenship.
In recent months, the Iranian government has invalidated census registration documents held by Afghan migrants and has initiated mass deportations. These measures come as the Taliban administration—lacking international recognition—has not presented a clear plan for the repatriation of Afghan nationals. Furthermore, ongoing restrictions in Afghanistan have contributed to even more Afghans fleeing the country.
