Iran has expelled nearly half a million Afghan migrants since the end of its “12 day war” with Israel.
The war, which came to a dramatic close in late June after Donald Trump’s bombing raids, resulted in over 1,000 deaths within Iran.
Since then, over 410,000 Afghans have been expelled – including forced deportations and voluntary returns, according to the International Organization for Migration.
And in 2025 alone, more than 1.5 million Afghans have been deported – with the Red Cross saying another million could face removal before the year concludes.
UN special rapporteur Mai Sato said that the daily return rate in Iran surpassed 29,600 during the week commencing July 10.
The UK, in the last year, has deported 35,000 people in total.
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PICTURED: Afghans queue up by the border as Iran cracks down on migrants
Elsewhere, Tehran has undertaken extensive measures to control migration – including a Donald Trump-style border wall.
Construction continues on the barrier along Iran’s lengthy frontiers with Afghanistan and Pakistan, aimed at preventing irregular crossings and combatting the smuggling of narcotics and fuel.
Iran’s Parliament is also drafting legislation to establish a dedicated national migration agency to crack down on illegal arrivals.
Prior to the current wave of deportations, Iranian officials placed the Afghan population within the country at 6.1 million, though observers suggest the actual figure may be considerably higher.
Iranian officials have characterised the mass removals as necessary for security purposes.
DEPORTATION CRACKDOWNS – READ MORE:
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PICTURED: Taliban officials in Afghanistan process recent arrivals from Iran
Authorities have specifically claimed that certain Afghan nationals received payments from Israel to carry out “activities” on Iranian soil.
The country’s state television has broadcast statements from several detained Afghan nationals claiming they had transmitted photographs and intelligence to anonymous contacts connected to Mossad.
These televised admissions form part of a wider crackdown which has seen hundreds of Iranian citizens detained – and some executed – over suspicions they have collaborated with Israel.
But with so many Afghans being removed from Iran, Britain could be bracing for a fresh migrant surge.
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Britain could be bracing for a fresh migrant surge
