Over 6 Million Afghan Migrants Reside In Iran, Official Says

An Iranian official has announced that 6.1 million Afghan migrants are currently residing in Iran, with more than two million lacking legal documentation.

Nader YarAhmadi, Deputy Interior Minister and Head of Iran’s Centre for Foreign Nationals and Migrants Affairs, made the remarks during an interview with Khabar Online.

He stated that many Afghans enter the country with passports and visas—some return within the permitted timeframe, while others overstay and seek visa extensions.

“The number of Afghan migrants remains 6.1 million,” YarAhmadi emphasised, noting that the Afghan population in Iran tends to settle in clusters within urban areas.

He also highlighted the deep cultural and linguistic ties between the two nations, saying, “Afghan brothers have never been considered a minority in Iran, which is why they are present across various cities.”

According to YarAhmadi, Iran deported over one million Afghan migrants last year, but approximately 50 percent of them have since returned to the country.

In recent months, Iran has increased efforts to expel undocumented migrants. However, the country’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has said that the process will be carried out “gradually and with dignity.”

He added that Afghanistan must develop sufficient infrastructure and capacity to reintegrate returning migrants effectively.