Iranian FM and UNHCR chief discuss Afghan refugee situation

 

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi met with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi in Tehran on Tuesday to discuss the situation of Afghan refugees in Iran and ongoing efforts to facilitate their return to Afghanistan.

According to a statement from Iran’s Foreign Ministry, the two sides reviewed the current level of cooperation between the Iranian government and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), with a focus on repatriation strategies and support for returnees.

Araghchi highlighted Iran’s decades-long role as a host to millions of Afghan refugees and displaced persons, stating that Tehran remains committed to advancing a comprehensive plan for the voluntary return of refugees and the repatriation of undocumented migrants.

He urged stronger cooperation from both the Afghan authorities and the UN in accelerating return efforts and called for concrete steps to create employment and reintegration opportunities for returnees inside Afghanistan.

“After more than five decades of hosting, the voluntary and dignified return of Afghan nationals must be supported through sustainable solutions on the ground,” Araghchi said.

Grandi commended Iran’s longstanding partnership with the UNHCR and acknowledged the services provided to Afghan refugees over the years.

He briefed Araghchi on his recent visit to Afghanistan, where he held talks with officials regarding the repatriation process and the conditions required to ensure the safe return of Afghans from Iran.

Grandi emphasized the need for continued coordination between the two countries to ensure that the repatriation process is voluntary, dignified, and aligned with international humanitarian standards.

“Iran’s contribution to refugee protection is notable, and with sustained collaboration, we can work toward a durable solution that respects the rights of returnees and supports their reintegration,” he said.

The meeting comes amid a marked increase in the number of Afghan nationals returning from Iran.

On July 16, Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni announced that nearly 800,000 Afghans had left the country since March 21, 2025, with approximately 70 percent (around 560,000 individuals) returning voluntarily, according to figures reported by the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

Iran hosts one of the world’s largest populations of Afghan refugees, many of whom fled successive waves of conflict over the past four decades. While some hold formal refugee status, a large number remain undocumented and face mounting legal and economic pressures amid Iran’s increasingly strict migration policies.

Human rights groups and international observers have urged both Iran and the UN to ensure that all returns remain voluntary and are accompanied by guarantees of safety, support, and reintegration for those returning to a country still facing deep humanitarian and economic challenges.