More than 230,000 Afghans returned from Iran in June alone, most of them forcibly deported, according to the United Nations’ migration agency. The sharp rise comes as Iran’s July 6 deadline approaches for undocumented Afghans to leave the country.
From June 1 to 28, exactly 233,941 Afghans returned, said IOM spokesperson Avand Azeez Agha. During the week of June 21 to 28, over 131,000 people crossed the border. Many families reported facing mounting pressure, police crackdowns, and sudden deportations without warning.
So far in 2025, nearly 700,000 Afghans have left Iran — and 70% were deported, the UN said. On some days last week, daily return numbers soared to 30,000, overwhelming border checkpoints. The Islam Qala and Milak crossings in western Afghanistan are bearing the brunt of this migration wave.
Iran announced in May that all undocumented Afghans must leave by July 6. Since then, local reports suggest increased targeting of Afghan workers, house raids, and detentions. Many of those returning say they had lived in Iran for years — some even decades — and left behind jobs, homes, and belongings.
Humanitarian agencies are now warning of a crisis. Afghanistan is already under pressure due to drought, food shortages, and mass unemployment. With limited shelter and aid in place, the return of thousands daily is straining resources. The IOM has appealed for urgent international support to handle the growing humanitarian burden.