Sun Jul 06 10:31:31 UTC 2025: **Iran’s Deadline Looms for Afghan Migrants, Sparking Humanitarian Concerns**
**Tehran, Iran** – Millions of Afghan migrants and refugees in Iran face a Sunday deadline to leave the country or risk arrest, raising alarm among humanitarian organizations who warn of potential destabilization in Afghanistan. The Iranian government’s ultimatum, issued months ago, is nearing as tensions remain high following the recent 12-day conflict with Israel, during which the United States conducted airstrikes on Iranian uranium enrichment facilities.
Iran, home to an estimated 4 million Afghan migrants and refugees, began a campaign in 2023 to expel foreigners deemed to be living in the country “illegally.” Since the March 20th announcement of the deadline, over 700,000 Afghans have left Iran, with the United Nations International Organization for Migration reporting over 230,000 departures in June alone.
While the Iranian government insists it is not specifically targeting Afghans who have fled war, poverty, and Taliban rule in their homeland, reports indicate a surge in deportations following the conflict with Israel. The UNHCR estimates deportations increased from 2,000 per day to over 30,000 during the war.
“We have always striven to be good hosts, but national security is a priority, and naturally, illegal nationals must return,” said Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani.
However, concerns are mounting about the humanitarian impact on Afghanistan, already grappling with severe poverty and instability. The influx of returning Afghans is overwhelming resources and creating desperate conditions at border crossings.
“They are coming in buses…and the people are let out of the bus, and they are simply bewildered, disoriented and tired and hungry as well,” said Arafat Jamal, the UNHCR representative in Afghanistan.
Adding to the complexities, reports indicate growing anti-Afghan sentiment in Iran, fueled by accusations that Afghans are responsible for economic hardships and social problems. Allegations have also surfaced, particularly after the conflict with Israel, that Israel has recruited Afghans as spies, further exacerbating tensions.
The mass deportations are also tearing families apart, with many Afghans having lived in Iran for decades and considering it their home.
“Being born in Iran gives us the feeling of having two homelands,” said Batoul Akbari, an Afghan restaurant owner in Tehran. “Our parents are from Afghanistan, but this is what we’ve always known as home.”
The international community is closely watching the situation as the Sunday deadline approaches, urging Iran to consider the humanitarian consequences of mass deportations and calling for increased support for Afghanistan to cope with the returning population.
First Piper 