Iran has ramped up efforts to deport at least two million undocumented migrants by March 2025, according to Ahmad Reza Radan, the commander of Iran’s law enforcement forces. The target mainly affects Afghan nationals, who make up the majority of the migrant population in Iran. Speaking in an interview with IRNA, Radan stated that their aim is to send millions of illegal foreign nationals back to their home countries by the end of the current year.
While no specific nationality was mentioned, the term “foreign national” in Iranian media typically refers to Afghan nationals. United Nations estimates suggest nearly 4.5 million Afghans live in Iran, though recent Iranian reports claim this number has risen to almost 10 million, comprising over 10 percent of Iran’s population. Since the crackdown began, over 500,000 migrants have already been deported, with an additional 250,000 voluntarily turning themselves in, bringing the total to 750,000.
The sharp increase in Afghan migration to Iran followed the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, leading millions to flee their country in search of safety. Over the past decade, the Afghan migrant population in Iran was estimated at around 2.5 million, but the influx has surged recently. The Iranian government has been criticized for not doing more to secure its borders and for allegedly exploiting Afghan migrants as part of its domestic and regional military strategy.
In addition to the deportation efforts, Iran’s parliament has proposed new laws that would restrict foreign nationals from obtaining permanent residency. Temporary residency permits of one to seven years will be the only options available under the new rules. These restrictions are aimed at reducing the migrant population by 10 percent each year.
Last year alone, Iran deported 1.3 million Afghans, including more than 20,000 children. With two million deportations planned over the next six months, Afghan migrants and refugees face growing uncertainty and challenges. Many of those affected are women and former Afghan government employees who fled their home country fearing persecution. This harsh crackdown has raised humanitarian concerns, as it leaves many vulnerable people struggling to secure long-term legal status in Iran and at risk of being forced back to war-torn Afghanistan.