Over One Million Afghan Migrants Deported, Says Iranian Interior Minister

Iran’s Interior Minister, Eskandar Momeni, has announced that since the beginning of this year, approximately 1.1 million Afghan migrants have been deported to Afghanistan.

He added that estimates indicate 50 percent of these individuals have since returned to Iran.

On Saturday, Momeni stated in an interview with Iran’s state television that the country no longer has the capacity to host Afghan migrants and is implementing various measures, including border closures, to prevent the entry of unauthorised migrants.

He reported that at least six million foreign nationals reside in Iran, with at least two million of them being undocumented. Stressing the necessity of deporting undocumented migrants, he asserted that there is no alternative to their expulsion.

Iran’s Interior Minister further highlighted that foreign aid for refugee support has significantly decreased and claimed that many job opportunities for Iranians have been taken by migrants.

In addition to accelerating the deportation of Afghan migrants, the Islamic Republic has banned their presence in several Iranian cities and has criminalised the employment of undocumented migrants.