Archive · 1 Aug 2025
Iran Deporting Afghans Amid Espionage Claims
Imagine Iran has asked many people from Afghanistan, who didn't have the right papers, to go back home.
They said these people might be spies for Israel.
Many people have been deported.
Some say Iran is blaming these people for problems they have.
Some officials said they caught some people building things for Israel, but others say it wasn't for that.
Lots of Afghans have already left Iran, and many more are going back to Afghanistan now.
Iran has deported hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees amid accusations of espionage.
The deportations followed a deadline for undocumented Afghans to leave by July.
Accusations suggest that some Afghans are linked to the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad.
Some reports indicate arrests of Afghans allegedly building drones for Israel, though this is disputed.
Over 918,000 Afghans returned to Afghanistan between June 22 and July 22.
- Who
- Iran is deporting Afghan refugees.
- What
- Iran is deporting hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees.
- When
- Deportations have been ongoing, with many returning between June 22 and July 22.
- Where
- Iran is deporting Afghans.
- Why
- Iran alleges national security concerns, including accusations of espionage for Israel. Some believe Iran is seeking to deflect blame.
Iranian Government's View
Critics' Perspective
Espionage Accusations
Iranian Government's View
Accuses some Afghan refugees of espionage links and detains individuals.
Critics' Perspective
Critics say it's a scapegoat and/or effort to gain legitimacy.
- Deportation Numbers
- Hundreds of thousands
- Afghans in Iran before
- Over 4 million undocumented
- Reported Daily Returns (Early July)
- About 50,000
- Accusations
- Links with Mossad
- Detentions
- Several Afghans
- Afghans returned (June 22 - July 22)
- Over 918,000