Iran is reportedly exploiting Afghan migrants through a new smart card scheme, charging nearly $1,700 for the right to stay in the country amid escalating deportations. According to a report by Ham-Mihan, a pro-reform newspaper in Tehran, the government requires Afghan migrants to purchase an expensive smart card to legally reside and work in Iran. This card, costing one billion rials, is mandatory for the head of the family and any male child over 18, making it the sole option for legal residency.
The smart card policy, introduced in June last year, has been labeled as a money-making scheme by critics. Issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs, the card has been termed the “One billion rial investment plan.” With millions of Afghans in Iran, this policy could generate billions of dollars, leveraging the vulnerability of Afghan migrants for financial gain. The Afghan population in Iran is estimated to be between 5 to 15 million, with up to 10,000 Afghans reportedly entering the country daily, swelling their numbers.
Amid this, Iran has ramped up the deportation of Afghan migrants. In August, Tehran’s Shahriar County governor announced a crackdown on undocumented Afghans, leading to mass deportations. However, many deported Afghans are compelled to return to Iran due to the dire situation in Afghanistan and familial ties in Iran. This cycle highlights the ongoing plight of Afghan migrants, who face both exploitation through the smart card scheme and the threat of deportation.
Iran’s Interior Minister, Eskandar Momeni, emphasized that managing foreign nationals is a priority, with plans to establish a National Migration Organization and enforce deportation of undocumented migrants by March 2025. This stance has drawn widespread criticism from activists and intellectuals in Iran, who denounce the mistreatment of Afghan migrants and the deportation of over 20,000 Afghan children, many unaccompanied.
Critics argue that Iran’s policies towards Afghan migrants serve multiple agendas, including demographic manipulation and providing recruits for overseas military operations. The government’s perceived “open border” approach allows thousands of Afghans to enter illegally daily, with some suggesting this is part of a broader strategy to bolster Iran’s population in line with ideological goals. Additionally, Afghans are seen as strategic assets for Iran’s military ambitions abroad, further complicating their position in the country.