Iranian Authorities Restrict Afghan Migrants from Traveling to “Forbidden Cities”

Kokcha News Agency reports that Iranian authorities have taken strict measures to regulate the movement of Afghan migrants within the country. During a meeting on Saturday, August 11, officials discussed the process of deporting Afghan migrants and imposed new restrictions on their travel.

Vahid Gholi Kani, the head of the General Directorate of Foreign Nationals and Immigrants Affairs in Tehran Province, stated that Afghan migrants with legal residency are also prohibited from traveling to “forbidden provinces.” He warned transportation companies against selling tickets to Afghans or transporting them to these restricted areas, calling such actions illegal.

According to the decision of Iran’s Ministry of Interior, Afghan migrants are not allowed to travel or reside in several provinces, including East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan, Ardabil, Zanjan, Kurdistan, Kermanshah, Ilam, Lorestan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, North Khorasan, Gilan, Mazandaran, Sistan and Baluchestan, Khuzestan, and Hamadan.

Gholi Kani emphasized that the deportation of undocumented migrants requires full coordination between relevant agencies. He added that undocumented migrants must be returned to Afghanistan through registration and care camps.

He also stressed that the departure of Afghan migrants without following legal procedures poses a serious challenge that requires comprehensive management and oversight.

Furthermore, Gholi Kani announced that Afghan migrants who voluntarily wish to return to Afghanistan must only visit the Khorasan Return Center to register their information and complete legal procedures, and they should avoid returning to Iran.

Hamidreza Rahmani, the CEO of Iran’s Terminals Organization, emphasized preventing the employment of undocumented Afghans in cooperative transportation companies, commercial booths, and contracting companies. He stated that security forces are continuously monitoring the movement of Afghans.

Iran has imposed severe restrictions on Afghan migrants. Previously, authorities warned employers against hiring Afghan migrants and instructed landlords not to rent properties to them.

The Taliban recently claimed that the Islamic Republic of Iran has forcibly deported nearly two million Afghans in the past three months.