KABUL: With the widespread and inhumane treatment of Afghan migrants in Iran, Mohammad Reza Aref, the Deputy President of Iran, has warned against efforts aimed at creating division between Afghanistan and Iran.
Aref in an interview with the state-run IRNA news agency referred to criticisms raised on social media regarding the forced expulsion of Afghan migrants, stating that the presence of undocumented migrants in Iran poses a threat to the country’s national security.
He claimed that the “millions” of Afghan citizens in Iran have incurred significant costs for the country.
This assertion comes despite economic experts noting that the presence and contributions of Afghan migrants in sectors such as construction, industry, and labor generate billions of dollars in annual profits for the Iranian economy.
According to Aref, the negative portrayal of Iran on social media is the work of intelligence circles.
He added that a unified, peaceful, and successful Afghanistan is a stable and reliable ally for Iran.
The remarks come amid widespread backlash from various sectors, including educators in both Iran and Afghanistan, regarding the treatment of Afghan migrants and the extensive forced expulsions, which have been described as inhumane.