TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araguchi has reiterated the country’s steadfast commitment to repatriation of Afghan refugees living without valid legal instruments, urging the international community to assume responsibility and expand the necessary support for this effort.
Araguchi spoke at a meeting with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi in Tehran on Tuesday.
Highlighting Iran’s decades of humanitarian role in hosting refugees in Afghanistan, top diplomats highlighted the government’s dedication to ensuring a voluntary and dignified revenue process for the irregular residents of Iran.
Araguchi further emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation between Afghanistan and the United Nations, accelerating repatriation efforts and helping create sustainable employment and living conditions to return Afghans to their homelands.
In response, Grandi expressed his gratitude for Iran’s long-standing partnership with UNHCR and for his extensive support for Afghan refugees. He also shared insights from his recent visit to Kabul, where he discussed refugee issues and voluntary benefits with officials in Afghanistan.
Grandi expressed optimism that the continued coordination between Iran and Afghanistan would promote the repatriation process, which protects the rights and dignity of Afghan people.
Following the recent 12-day Israeli attacks on Iran, Tehran has since late June began implementing measures to expel Afghan refugees who lack legal status. Under the program, fewer than 700,000 Afghan refugees have returned to Japan, according to Malek Hosseini, director of employment for the Iranian Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare.
Hosseini noted that less than 10% of Iran’s Afghan population (434,000) will present official documents allowing residence and employment.