Iran’s Foreign Ministry: Afghan Migration is Linked to the Ongoing Instability in Afghanistan

Bayan News – Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, stated that terrorism and the displacement of Afghans are connected to the continued instability in Afghanistan.

In his first press conference as the spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Monday, October 21, he said: “The Islamic Republic of Iran’s policy regarding Afghanistan is clear; we speak about the country’s foreign policy, which naturally does not change with the change of individuals.”

Baghaei added: “All our efforts have been aimed at helping to establish security and stability in Afghanistan through continued technical and operational interactions.”

The spokesperson emphasized: “If stability and security are established in Afghanistan, many other issues, including terrorism and Afghan migration or displacement, will also be resolved.”

Since the Masoud Pezeshkian administration came to power in the Islamic Republic, living conditions for Afghan migrants have become unprecedentedly difficult, and under the country’s new laws, migrants are not allowed to rent houses, work, or even reside in certain cities in Iran.

Additionally, Iranian law enforcement officials recently announced that by the end of this year, around two million Afghan migrants residing illegally will be deported.

Water Rights

In the same press conference, the spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry also addressed the issue of water rights, stating that the Iranian government will claim its water rights from the Helmand River from the Taliban.

Baghaei emphasized: “We have been working to secure Iran’s water rights from Afghanistan, and this issue is being pursued by the president’s special envoy for Afghan affairs.”

He added that more water has flowed from Afghanistan into Iran this year, but there is still a long way to go to fully implement the Helmand River Treaty.

A second shooting by Iranian border guards at Afghan migrants has been reported