Recent attacks by Iran on Israel have raised concerns among Afghan migrants in Iran, who have primarily sought refuge in the country due to unemployment and security threats. They argue that tensions between Israel and Iran have negatively impacted the livelihoods of millions of Afghan migrants. According to them, if Israel were to also attack Iran, the lives of thousands who have fled Afghanistan to Iran due to security threats would face dire circumstances. They urge the international community to address the concerns of migrants in Iran as soon as possible. Meanwhile, some political analysts suggest that tensions between Iran and some other countries may escalate given the current situation. They assert that the return of Afghan migrants to their country is impossible due to security and political issues. They emphasize that considering the current situation in the region, the Taliban must undergo a “comprehensive political change.”
The recent attack, on April 13 by Iran on Israel and its consequences, has deeply worried many Afghan migrants in Iran.
Jamshid, one of the Afghan migrants in Tehran, who has been living in Iran with his family for over 10 years, says that the recent attack by Iran on Israel has harmed their employment situation. He told the Hasht-e Subh Daily, “Since the attack happened, we have all been shocked. I was working in a factory, but our work has temporarily stopped. Although they have cited something else as the reason for the halt in our work, it has stopped due to concerns about a possible Israeli attack.”
According to Jamshid, following the increased tensions between Iran and Israel, the trend of expelling undocumented Afghan migrants from Iran has also reached unprecedented levels.
Nusrat Sekandari, another one of these migrants, says, “The crackdown on Afghans has intensified. The police are everywhere, detaining and deporting undocumented Afghan migrants. I, who have no documents, have stopped working for several days and do not leave my house.”
They emphasize that in the event of a potential Israeli attack on Iran, the lives of millions of Afghan migrants in that country will be at risk.
Maryam, the daughter of a former government soldier who fled to Iran with the return of the Taliban, tells the Hasht-e Subh Daily, “We migrants are very worried about Israel’s attacks on Iran; because we can’t go back to our country anymore. My father was a soldier before, and if we return, like thousands of other soldiers, he will either be detained by the Taliban or killed.”
However, Afghan migrants in Iran urge the international community to find a “solution” to their concerns as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, some political analysts suggest that given the current situation, tensions between Iran and some other countries may escalate.
Weis Nasseri, a political affairs expert, told the Hasht-e Subh Daily that the return of Afghan migrants to their country is impossible due to security and political issues. He stated, “In a situation where Iran itself is at risk of attack by Israel with the cooperation of the United States, France, Britain, and other countries, aiming to unilaterally deal with the Iran issue permanently, the lives of millions of our compatriot migrants in Iran are at risk when this country is invaded.” Nasseri added, “In the current situation unfolding in the region and the world, there is likely to be a very large and extensive war. Therefore, if the Taliban have any concern for the people of Afghanistan, they must initiate a comprehensive political change, and within a few weeks and months, we must reach a political agreement and establish a transitional government.”
Iran conducted retaliatory attacks against Israel on Saturday night, April 13 with widespread drone and missile strikes. The Israeli military stated that it had tracked “99 percent” of the 300 Iranian drones and missiles with the assistance of a military coalition.
Western countries have condemned Iran’s attack on Israel and urged both sides to exercise restraint to ease tensions. However, three Western officials informed The Wall Street Journal that Israel is anticipated to retaliate “very soon” to Iran’s attack. With the recent confrontation between Iran and Israel, tensions in the Middle East have escalated to their highest point in the past two weeks.