Rising Tensions: Iran's Deportation of Afghan Refugees Amid Claims of Espionage

In the wake of a brief war with Israel, Iran has intensified the deportation of Afghan refugees, labeling some as spies for the Israeli government. Reports reveal severe mistreatment of deportees, raising concerns over human rights violations and exacerbating an already challenging humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.

In an alarming escalation of anti-Afghan sentiment, Iran has forcibly expelled over 1.5 million Afghan migrants since early this year, with many labeled as spies for Israel in a politically charged atmosphere following a 12-day conflict between the two nations. The Iranian authorities contend they host over four million undocumented Afghans, prompting a crackdown that has seen deportations soar, especially after tensions flared in June.

Reports from individuals like Ali Ahmad—who spoke to the BBC under a pseudonym to protect his identity—describe horrific treatment at the hands of Iranian officers, who allegedly beat him and falsely accused him of espionage. "They treated us like animals," he recounted, sharing the trauma experienced during his detention. Many Afghans now live with the perpetual fear of being unjustly branded as spies or accused of collaborating with foreign intelligence, following widespread media reports linking them to Israeli intelligence.

Experts suggest that the Iranian government may be using these allegations as a 'scapegoat' to deflect criticism regarding its failures in the recent conflict and further legitimize its plans to deport undocumented Afghans. According to Barnett Rubin, a former senior advisor to the U.S. Department of State, the Iranian regime is embarrassed by its own security lapses and is keen to find someone to blame.

The Iranian state media has fueled this narrative, often portraying Afghan nationals in a negative light, which has led to a significant uptick in public animosity. Many Afghans who have lived in Iran for years now find themselves vulnerable to this growing hostility, compelling them to flee their homes. Abdullah Rezaee, another Afghan deportee, described his harrowing experience in a detention facility, expressing the torment of being treated as a criminal despite possessing valid documentation.

The connection between Afghanistan’s deportees and Israeli intelligence has been further amplified by manipulated narratives circulating on social media and driven by state-controlled outlets. Reports of arrests of Afghans for alleged connections to drone manufacturing have been widely shared, despite subsequent denials from Iranian officials that these actions were merely related to illegal residency status.

With the rapid increase in deportations, humanitarian organizations warn that Afghanistan—the source of these returning migrants—is ill-equipped to handle the influx of returnees under Taliban rule. Currently, the country is grappling with a humanitarian crisis as insufficient resources struggle to accommodate those fleeing conflict in neighboring regions.

Khadija Abbasi, a specialist in forced migration, notes that while Afghans were once welcomed in Iran, the narrative has shifted dramatically, portraying them as an economic burden and exacerbating longstanding prejudices against them. The Iranian government’s measures to expel Afghan refugees have elicited rare solidarity among both Iranian and Afghan activists, who are advocating against their inhumane treatment.

As the crisis unfolds, it reveals not just a humanitarian catastrophe but also highlights the dangers posed by rising nationalism and scapegoating that threatens the already vulnerable Afghan diaspora. The continued deportation of Afghans raises complex questions about asylum, human rights, and the broader implications of disinformation in shaping public perception and policy.