Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Iran’s Economic Crisis Sends Afghan Families Back to Taliban Rule
Many Afghan families moved to Iran to escape poverty and Taliban rule.
They hoped to find work and live more comfortably there.
But Iran’s economy became much worse during the conflict involving the United States and Israel.
Prices for food and other necessities rose sharply, and many people lost their jobs or savings.
Some Afghans decided that returning to Afghanistan was their only choice.
Women and girls are returning too, even though the Taliban restricts their education, travel and work.
Some families are trying to start businesses again in Afghanistan.
Others have found no jobs and are living in difficult conditions.
Thousands of Afghans are returning from Iran after inflation, unemployment and the war damaged their livelihoods.
Iranian consumer prices rose nearly 90% year on year, while food inflation reached almost 130%, according to Iran’s Statistical Centre.
More than 2 million Afghans have left Iran over the past two years, mostly through deportation or pressure to leave.
Recent returnees increasingly include women and entire families, despite Taliban restrictions on women’s education, travel and employment.
Some returnees are rebuilding businesses in Afghanistan, while others face unemployment, debt and sharply lower living standards.
- Who
- Afghan migrants, including women and entire families, are returning from Iran; the Taliban governs Afghanistan.
- What
- Afghans are leaving Iran because of economic hardship and conflict-related disruption, returning to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
- When
- The latest wave followed the conflict and occurred during 2025; Reuters reported from the border in September.
- Where
- Many returns are taking place through the Islam Qala crossing in Afghanistan’s Herat province, from Iran.
- Why
- Migrants cited unemployment, inflation, lost savings, unaffordable food and insecurity related to the conflict in Iran.
Return as Economic Survival
Return Under Taliban Restrictions
Why families are leaving Iran
Return as Economic Survival
Returning migrants and a Taliban border official say unemployment, inflation, unaffordable essentials and unpaid wages have made staying in Iran unsustainable.
Return Under Taliban Restrictions
The Iranian mission in New York did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment, so the report provides no official Iranian response to the migrants’ economic claims.
Conditions facing women and girls
Return as Economic Survival
Some families believe returning offers access to relatives, work or safety from conflict, and some have restarted businesses in Afghanistan.
Return Under Taliban Restrictions
The United Nations and returnees describe severe restrictions in Afghanistan, including limits on women’s education, travel, employment and movement; the Taliban says it respects women’s rights under Islamic sharia law.
- Consumer-price inflation in Iran
- Nearly 90% year on year, according to Iran’s Statistical Centre.
- Food inflation in Iran
- Almost 130% year on year, according to Iran’s Statistical Centre.
- Afghans leaving Iran
- More than 2 million over the past two years, according to United Nations data cited by Reuters.
- Returnees with savings
- Only 29% of recently returned Afghans said they had savings left, according to International Organization for Migration surveys.
- Income change
- Average income among recent returnees fell by nearly one-third compared with pre-crisis levels.
- Daily voluntary returns
- A Taliban border official said 20 to 40 families, including women and girls, return voluntarily through Islam Qala each day.
- Women’s restrictions in Afghanistan
- The Taliban bars women from some professions and restricts education, travel and university access.