HERAT, AFGHANISTAN — July 16, 2025
Iran Deports more than 1.2 million Afghan migrants have been forced out of Iran since the start of 2025. Every day, buses and trucks offload exhausted families at the border, often with just the clothes on their backs. The scenes unfolding at Islam Qala and Milak are heartbreaking.
Thousands are arriving daily, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Most were given no notice. One moment they were workers, tenants, or neighbors in Iranian cities — and the next, deportees with nowhere to go.
The desert heat hits hard, reaching over 50°C. People walk barefoot, pushing strollers through sand, carrying the elderly on their backs. Children cry from thirst. Makeshift tents offer little protection. Food is scarce, water scarcer.
“We had been living in Tehran for 12 years. My children were born there,” says Zarmina, a 39-year-old mother. “Then one morning, they knocked. Within hours, we were packed in a van, dumped at the border. No time to pack. No papers. No answers.”
Iran says the deportations are about national security — especially after recent tensions with Israel. Afghan nationals were accused of espionage and internal threats. But aid groups and observers say something else is happening: a rising tide of xenophobia, fueled by Iran’s economic hardship, pushing the country to remove its most vulnerable population.
Here’s what the numbers look like: Over 1.2 million Afghans deported this year. In June alone, 256,000 were pushed across the border — nearly 10,000 every day. Many are pregnant women, small children, and elderly people who cannot even walk. Only about 15% receive any kind of aid when they arrive.
Aid workers are overwhelmed. The UNHCR and IOM have both issued warnings, saying the Afghan state is not equipped to handle the sudden influx. The country is still grappling with collapsed infrastructure, sanctions, and a fragile economy.
Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban has urged Iran to slow the expulsions and treat people with dignity, but rights groups say those pleas are falling on deaf ears. The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) says the campaign could qualify as a crime against humanity — calling it “collective punishment” that violates basic refugee protections.
“Iran must stop this campaign of forced returns,” says Anita Rafi, spokesperson for Displaced International. “This isn’t border control. It’s people disposal.”
International law is clear: You can’t deport people en masse without reviewing their cases individually. But that’s exactly what’s happening. Observers on the ground describe it as “assembly-line deportation” — people pushed into trucks, no questions asked.
What’s even more disturbing is that many of those deported had lived in Iran for decades. Some were born there. Their children know no other home. Now, they’ve been left with no documents, no status, no compensation, and no way forward.
Behind every statistic is a real person. A real story. A quiet heartbreak.
What’s happening at the Iran-Afghanistan border isn’t just policy — it’s pain, loss, and erasure.
If this is how countries protect their borders, then who protects the people?
FAQ : Iran Deports 1.2 Million Afghans
1. Why is Iran deporting so many Afghans in 2025?
Iran says it’s about national security, especially after regional tensions. But many experts and aid groups believe it’s largely driven by internal economic pressure and growing anti-immigrant sentiment.
2. How many Afghans have been deported this year?
Over 1.2 million Afghans have been forced out of Iran between January and July 2025. Authorities in Tehran have said they may expel up to 4 million undocumented Afghans.
3. What conditions are deported Afghans facing at the border?
Many arrive with no food, water, or shelter. They’re exhausted, overheated, and emotionally broken. The desert temperatures often exceed 50°C, and humanitarian support is critically limited.
4. Is this legal under international law?
Mass deportations without individual case reviews violate international refugee laws — especially if people are returned to unsafe or unstable environments. That’s exactly what rights groups say is happening here.
5. What can people do to support the deportees?
You can support trusted humanitarian organizations, raise awareness on social media, and contact elected officials to demand international pressure on Iran. Even one share can make a difference.
Call to Action 📢
This is real. This is now.
If you believe in dignity, rights, and safety for all — share this story.
Support the groups working on the ground. Speak up. Act. Because behind every number is someone just like you — hoping the world still cares. 💔
Very sad