Iran Deports Thousands of Afghan Migrants Amid Security Crackdown

In the months leading up to August 2025, Iran has significantly escalated its deportation of undocumented Afghan migrants who had fled the conflict in their homeland. This crackdown has had tragic consequences, as evidenced by a recent bus crash that killed dozens of Afghan migrants being deported from Iran.

The accident occurred because the bus driver was driving at "excessive speed and negligence," according to local police. Traffic accidents are common in Afghanistan, where roads have been damaged by decades of conflict and driving regulations are poorly enforced.

The mass deportations have contributed to a growing anti-Afghan sentiment in Iran, with refugees facing systemic discrimination. Since January 2025, more than 1.5 million Afghans have left Iran, some of whom had been living in the country for generations.

Experts warn that Afghanistan lacks the capacity to absorb the influx of returnees, as the country struggles under Taliban rule. The situation is further exacerbated by the large number of Afghans also being forced to leave neighboring Pakistan.