Nearly Half a Million Undocumented Afghan Nationals Leave Iran: Official
Nearly 490,000 undocumented Afghan nationals have voluntarily left Iran through the Dogharoun border crossing over the past 100 days, according to a senior Iranian official, amid worsening conditions for migrants in the country.
Amirollah Shamghadari, the deputy governor of Iran’s Khorasan Razavi Province, which borders Afghanistan, said the Dogharoun crossing has seen the highest volume of Afghan departures in recent weeks, with 67 percent of all Afghan exits occurring at this border point.
Speaking to Iran Front Page, Shamghadari emphasized that the process was conducted “with full respect and human dignity,” noting that on Friday alone, around 26,000 Afghans crossed the border, many without passing through refugee camps.
The mass departures come as Afghan migrants face increasingly difficult conditions in Iran, particularly in the aftermath of Israel’s attack on Iranian territory in April, which has heightened tensions and triggered a wave of security measures. Migrants and humanitarian groups have reported rising pressure, discrimination, and economic hardship, further driving voluntary returns.
Shamghadari said Iran remains committed to “voluntary, humane, and lawful” repatriations, adding that Afghan nationals have expressed satisfaction with the facilities at Safid Sang and Hasanabad camps. “Priority is given to families who have voluntarily introduced themselves rather than those who were apprehended,” he said.
He also dismissed rumors linking the departures to espionage concerns involving the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, calling such claims part of a “psychological operation” orchestrated by foreign enemies.
The official reiterated that Iran strongly rejects xenophobia and anti-Afghan sentiment, citing deep historical and cultural ties between the two nations. He added that the Islamic Republic’s long-term objective is to manage migration under a regulated legal framework that may include future re-entry for Afghans.
Human rights organizations have raised concerns about the deteriorating conditions for migrants in Iran, where Afghans often face limited access to employment, healthcare, and legal protections. The UN has repeatedly called for host countries to uphold the rights of displaced Afghans and avoid forced returns.
