Almost 450,000 Afghan nationals have returned from Iran since the beginning of June, as Tehran enforced a strict July 6 deadline for undocumented individuals to leave the country. This surge in returns has been confirmed by the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM).
A spokesperson for the IOM reported on Monday that between June 1 and July 5, a total of 449,218 Afghans crossed back into their home country from Iran. This recent influx brings the total number of Afghans who have returned from Iran so far this year to 906,326, highlighting a continuous and accelerating trend of displacement.
The Iranian government had set a firm deadline of July 6 for all undocumented Afghans – an estimated four million people – to depart voluntarily or face forced deportation. This directive, issued in late May, has led to a significant increase in border crossings, with some days seeing as many as 40,000 individuals returning through points like Islam Qala in western Herat province.
Humanitarian organizations have raised serious concerns about the implications of these mass returns, warning that they could further destabilize Afghanistan, which is already grappling with profound poverty, high unemployment, and humanitarian crises. Many returnees arrive with little to no possessions, facing immense hardship and uncertainty. The IOM has stressed that Afghanistan’s fragile reception and reintegration systems are under severe strain, exacerbating the country’s already dire humanitarian needs.
The majority of these returns are reported to be involuntary, with many individuals facing pressure from Iranian authorities or direct arrest and deportation. The IOM and other UN agencies are calling for increased international funding and support to assist the overwhelming number of returnees and to ensure that any future returns are safe, dignified, and voluntary.
