Iran’s Interior Minister says over one million Afghan refugees deported

Iran’s Interior Minister says over one million Afghan refugees deported

Iskandar Momeni, Iran’s Minister of the Interior, announced on Saturday, February 1, that since the beginning of March last year, 1.1 million Afghan refugees have been sent back to Afghanistan from Iran.

Momeni made these remarks during a special interview with Iran’s state television, IRIB News. He highlighted that, as of now, there are six million foreign nationals living in Iran. He also pointed out that two million of these individuals are residing in Iran illegally, even for short-term stays.

Minister Momeni reminded that there are limited job opportunities available for both refugees and local citizens. Furthermore, international assistance to address the needs of the migrant population is still lacking.

Although Afghan migrants have historically been present in Iran, the number of migrants has increased significantly since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. Factors such as lack of job opportunities, poverty, insecurity, and ethnic discrimination under Taliban rule have forced many Afghan citizens to flee their homeland.

The large number of Afghan refugees in Iran is placing immense pressure on the country’s resources. With limited opportunities for both refugees and local populations, Iran faces a challenging situation. The need for international cooperation to support both the migrants and host communities is becoming more urgent.

Given the ongoing political instability in Afghanistan, long-term solutions to the refugee crisis are necessary. International organizations and governments must work together to create sustainable plans that support refugees while addressing the root causes of displacement, such as conflict and lack of opportunity in Afghanistan.