WANA (Jul 17) – During the recent war between Iran and Israel, the issue of the presence of undocumented Afghan nationals in Iran once again became a hot topic in public discourse. Although some foreign media outlets attempted to link the deportation of these individuals to the recent tensions, the reality is that Iran had previously announced that all undocumented foreigners must leave the country by July 6.

 

This decision had not only been made in advance, but detailed plans had also been put in place for its implementation. Nevertheless, security conditions and regional complexities prompted Iran to take action to accelerate the enforcement of this decision.

 

Statistical dimensions and the reality of the Afghan migrant population

According to estimated figures, around six million Afghans reside in Iran, of which only two million are legal residents, while the remaining four million live in the country without authorization.

 

Many of them were born in Iran and have no familiarity with Afghanistan, but ultimately, it is a fact that every country has the right to make decisions regarding undocumented foreigners within its borders. Given its current difficult economic and security circumstances, Iran has no choice but to organize and manage this situation.

Taliban, Kabul, Afghanistan / WANA News Agency

Taliban, Kabul, Afghanistan. Social media / WANA News Agency

After the Taliban came to power, a new wave of migrants significantly increased Iran’s security concerns. In response, Iran undertook measures such as constructing a wall along its eastern border and engaging in negotiations and cooperation with its neighboring countries to mitigate security threats.

 

It also set a deadline for undocumented migrants to return to their home country. However, as the deadline approached, some foreign media outlets used the situation as a pretext to associate it with the war, whereas in reality, the war merely accelerated the process.

 

A Pre-Planned Decision; Not Sudden or Reactionary

According to Alireza Bigdeli, Iran’s acting envoy in Kabul, the decision to organize the status of Afghan nationals in Iran had been made months before the onset of tensions. The planning process for this arrangement began in 2023, but due to the death of Iran’s president and foreign minister, the change in government, and the appointment of new officials, its implementation was postponed until the fall of 2024.

 

Because of the harsh conditions of return in autumn and issues regarding the education of migrants’ children, the deadline for departure was shifted from March 19, 2025, to July 6, 2025. Ultimately, the plan entered the execution phase and proceeded from the outset according to a clear timeline and communication, not as a sudden or reactionary measure.

 

Alireza Bigdeli also explained that under this plan, if undocumented individuals leave Iran by the set deadline, they will be able to return in the future through legal procedures such as obtaining visas and residency. However, if they do not leave by the deadline, a five-year entry ban will be applied. He added that one of the reasons for the current wave of migrant departures could be this incentive-based policy.

Alireza Bigdeli. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Media That Show Only One Side of the Story

Despite such clarifications, some foreign media outlets, by publishing selective interviews with returning migrants, attempt to portray the situation in Iran as inhumane. For example, an Afghan man who returned to his country after 42 years of working as a construction laborer in Isfahan said in an interview that life in Iran was so difficult for him that it was “equal to death.” But the question arises: if life in Iran was so unbearable, how was he able to live there for over four decades and endure the conditions?

 

Another interviewee said, “They wouldn’t even give us bread without a card, they disrespected us, and they charged us a large sum to reach the border. At the border, they didn’t give us water, but here we are grateful to the Islamic Emirate for helping us.”

 

In response to this, it should be noted that Iran’s new bread distribution system applies to all citizens—including Iranians—and purchasing bread without a bank card is not possible in most bakeries. Moreover, transportation and accommodation services during the return journey involve costs that even Iranian nationals are required to pay when using them. Expecting all services to be provided free of charge and without any mechanism is neither feasible nor fair.

 

At the same time, it should be noted that not all narratives are negative, and some media outlets have taken both sides into consideration.

 

Another individual who participated in an interview spoke about the hospitality of Iranians, saying: “When I was saying goodbye to my neighbors in Iran, they were crying, and I also became homesick for them.”

Afghan Migrants. Social media/ WANA News Agency

He also added: “Iran, despite its own circumstances, has provided us with good services, and if there have been shortcomings, they have affected everyone. It is natural for any country to prioritize its own citizens in some areas.”

 

A review of all these interviews shows that some media outlets, with a specific agenda, portray only one side of the story and try to depict all migrants as dissatisfied, while the reality has two sides. Many migrants have expressed satisfaction and gratitude for the facilities and conditions that Iran has provided over the years, and their dissatisfaction is mostly due to the situation in their own country and their unresolved legal status.

 

Improper treatment: a global issue

In the end, it must be acknowledged that Iran set a clear deadline for the departure of undocumented foreign nationals, and many of them left the country within the given timeframe. However, the disregard of this deadline by some individuals prompted authorities to intervene in order to accelerate the process.

 

Just as in many other countries, there may be instances where some individuals fail to treat migrants properly; some Iranians have also acted improperly in certain cases. However, as officials have stated, such behavior is indefensible anywhere and will also be dealt with in Iran.

 

In this regard, Alireza Bigdeli emphasized that the main goal of these measures has merely been to regulate the residence status of undocumented migrants, not to harass or mistreat them. The Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly stated its readiness to improve the conditions for migrants and has even offered to send doctors, field hospitals, and provide medical and food aid.

Afghan women hold signs during the protest against the ban on secondary and higher education for women and the closure of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs in Kabul, Afghanistan, September 19, 2021. WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Security Concerns Alongside Economic Considerations

Nevertheless, in addition to economic and social issues, security reasons have also played a role in accelerating the departure process. There are reports indicating that some Central Asian nationals have been involved in the production of drones used in the recent conflicts between Iran and Israel. Such matters have heightened Iran’s security concerns and demonstrate that the issue is not limited to migration or economic matters, but is also tied to the protection of national security.

 

47 Years of Unpretentious Hospitality

Overall, for the past forty-seven years, Iran has hosted these migrants on humanitarian and neighborly grounds, while many wealthy Western countries or Persian Gulf states have refused to accept such numbers of migrants, as they had no benefit in doing so.

 

Yet Iran, without expecting anything in return, provided them with healthcare, education, energy subsidies, housing, and more, even helping some of them become professionals. But no country can shoulder the burden of undocumented migrants forever, especially when there is a possibility of enemy infiltration among them.

 

Fatemeh Mojaherani, spokesperson for the Iranian government, in response to the wave of criticism, stated: “We have always tried to be good hosts, but national security is a priority, and naturally, undocumented individuals must return.” According to official statistics, last year, 95 percent of foreign prisoners in Iran were Afghan nationals—a considerable figure.

 

Ultimately, it must be acknowledged that Iran’s administrative system, whether in dealing with its own citizens or with foreign nationals, has its shortcomings that need to be addressed. However, individual mistakes should not be allowed to tarnish the humanitarian face of Iran’s years of hosting. Safeguarding security and national interests is the duty of every government, and Iran is no exception.

Afghan Migrants. Social media/ WANA News Agency