Tehran Issues 5,000 Afghan Visas Daily, Says Iranian UN Envoy

Amir Saeed Iravani, Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, has stated that Afghan legal migrants in Iran face no restrictions, and Iranian consulates in Afghanistan issue 5,000 visas daily.

According to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, Iravani made these remarks on Monday during a UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan.

He emphasised that Iran’s policy towards Afghan refugees and migrants remains unchanged and is based on humanitarian principles. He noted that Iran has hosted millions of Afghans for over four decades. He stated that the situation worsened following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, placing additional strain on Iran.

Iravani reiterated that legal Afghan migrants in Iran do not face restrictions. He said Iranian consulates issue 5,000 visas daily to Afghan nationals.

Addressing the deportation of Afghan migrants, Iravani stated that those repatriated had entered Iran illegally. He cited security concerns, including terrorism threats, as the reason for Iran’s continued deportations of undocumented migrants.

He called on international organisations to assist Tehran in managing the Afghan migrant crisis. He stressed that neighbouring countries like Iran and Pakistan cannot bear this responsibility alone and need continuous and meaningful support.

Iravani urged the international community to take concrete actions rather than relying on rhetoric.

His remarks come as Iran has intensified deportations of undocumented Afghan migrants over the past year, with thousands expelled daily.