Iran orders ‘immediate’ deportation of illegal foreign nationals
Iran's prosecutor general on Saturday ordered all unauthorized foreign nationals to leave the country "immediately," threatening legal action against violators and property seizures from landlords who rent to undocumented immigrants.
Mohammad Kazem Movahedi Azad issued the directive during a memorial ceremony in Hamedan province, specifically targeting Afghan nationals who have been living in Iran without proper documentation, IRNA reported.
"Foreign nationals, especially our Afghan brothers and sisters whom we have hosted for years, should help ensure unauthorized individuals leave Iran in the shortest possible time," Movahedi Azad said, adding that violators would face judicial action.
The crackdown extends beyond deportations. Border Guard Commander Brigadier General Ahmad Ali Goudarzi announced that rental agreements with Afghan nationals would be declared void under the new policy.
"Any house or property rented to Afghans will have its contract nullified, and the property will be sealed and confiscated," Goudarzi said.
The border commander described the move as responding to "public demand" for organizing unauthorized foreign nationals, according to state media reports.
Iran has hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades, but the Islamic Republic has faced mounting economic pressure from international sanctions and growing public discontent over resource allocation.
Movahedi Azad also called on authorized foreign residents to report individuals who have collaborated with the Zionist regime, promising leniency for those who voluntarily turn themselves in.
The prosecutor general's office did not specify a timeline for the deportations or provide figures on how many unauthorized foreign nationals currently reside in Iran.
Iran's relationship with its Afghan population has deteriorated since the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, with Tehran periodically announcing mass deportation campaigns that have displaced thousands of families.
The new directive represents one of the most comprehensive crackdowns on undocumented immigrants in recent years, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of Afghan nationals who fled to Iran seeking economic opportunities or escaping conflict.