Tehran Police Warn Against Assisting Afghan Migrants with SIM Cards & Bank Accounts

Tehran’s Cyber Police Chief, Davood Moazami Goodarzi, has issued a stern warning to Iranian citizens against providing SIM cards and bank accounts to Afghan migrants, stating that such actions constitute a criminal offence and can lead to severe legal consequences.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, 17 November, Goodarzi highlighted that many Iranians are unaware of the serious repercussions involved in facilitating access to these services for undocumented migrants.

Goodarzi explained that some individuals, either knowingly or unknowingly, are registering SIM cards and bank accounts in their own names, which are then handed over to Afghan migrants who lack legal residency status in Iran. He stressed that any crimes committed through these accounts or SIM cards would legally implicate the Iranians who have facilitated their use.

Describing the practice as a "serious offence," Goodarzi also revealed that the rental of SIM cards, bank accounts, and cryptocurrency exchange accounts to Afghan migrants has been a contributing factor to a number of cybercrimes in the past. He pointed to the rise of a black market in Iran, where SIM cards and bank accounts are provided to migrants, often through fraudulent registration under false identities.

Afghan migrants, particularly those without long-term residency permits, face significant challenges in obtaining mobile SIM cards and opening bank accounts in Iran. According to Goodarzi, only a small number of Afghan migrants with permanent residency are eligible for such services.

The police chief called for stricter enforcement measures to combat the growing black market and to safeguard both the Iranian financial system and the integrity of personal data.