Iran has called for greater international support in hosting millions of Afghan refugees, warning that it is becoming increasingly difficult to manage the long-term humanitarian burden without a fair sharing of responsibilities.
Speaking at the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) Progress Review Meeting in Geneva this week, Nader Yarahmadi, Director of the Center for Foreign Nationals and Refugees at Iran’s Ministry of Interior, emphasised that continuing to host refugees without international assistance is no longer sustainable.
Iran has been hosting Afghan refugees for more than 45 years, one of the world’s largest and longest-standing refugee situations.
Yarahmadi highlighted that, despite oppressive sanctions and limited domestic resources, Iran has provided services beyond the obligations outlined in the 1951 Refugee Convention.
Iranian officials also pointed to the negative consequences of military interventions in regional countries, including Afghanistan and Iraq, by extra-regional powers.
“This situation has been the result of irresponsible policies and military interventions by the United States and its allies in the region,” Yarahmadi said.
Addressing concerns about the return of undocumented Afghan nationals, Yarahmadi noted that around 1 million Afghans return home annually, and that recent departures were influenced by Israel-U.S. attacks last June, which affected civilian areas.
Last October, he denied reports alleging misconduct or undue pressure on undocumented Afghans.
Currently, Iran hosts approximately 5 million refugees, the majority of whom are Afghan nationals who fled Soviet invasion and civil war in Afghanistan over the past four decades.
Iranian authorities plan to gradually reduce the number to 3 million, aligning with the 3 percent global standard for hosting refugees, as the country’s population is projected to reach 90 million next year.
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz has said that Iran's security chief Ali Larijani was killed in ta...
Joseph Kent, head of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, resigned on Tuesday (17 March), becoming the most senior official in President Dona...
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz has said the country’s military killed two of Iran’s most senior security figu...
A series of severe storms, blizzards and tornadoes on Monday disrupted life across much of the U.S., leaving more than 12,500 flights delayed or ca...
China’s international trade representative has said Beijing and Washington have reached a “preliminary consensus” on some key iss...
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz has said that Iran's security chief Ali Larijani was killed in targeted strikes on the country.
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz has said the country’s military killed two of Iran’s most senior security figures in overnight airstrikes, as tensions across the Middle East continue to escalate.
The real power of the Strait of Hormuz lies not in closing it, but in the threat of closure.
When the current confrontation around Iran eventually fades into history, the real story for the South Caucasus may not be about missiles or military balances. It is likely to be about ports, railways and trade routes.
The other evening, I was fuelling my car at a petrol station in Kenya’s capital. It was one of those small moments most motorists barely notice. The attendant filled the tank, I glanced at the pump price, paid, and drove off.
President Trump called on countries to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Starmer said the UK is working with allies to restore navigation and stabilise oil markets. It comes as a strike near Iraq’s western border killed several Hashed al-Shaabi fighters, raising regional tensions.
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz has said that Iran's security chief Ali Larijani was killed in targeted strikes on the country.
Kazakhstan has adopted a new constitution that could allow President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to stay in power beyond 2029. The Central Election Commission confirmed that 87.15% of voters backed the constitution in a referendum held on Sunday (17 March).
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released $2m in emergency funding to support health responses in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria as escalating regional conflict strains hospitals, raises displacement and increases pressure on already fragile health systems.
A series of severe storms, blizzards and tornadoes on Monday disrupted life across much of the U.S., leaving more than 12,500 flights delayed or cancelled and forcing schools, federal offices and communities to take emergency precautions.
China’s international trade representative has said Beijing and Washington have reached a “preliminary consensus” on some key issues following their latest round of talks in Paris, offering a cautious sign of progress in a relationship long marked by tension and uncertainty.
Chile’s newly inaugurated president, José Antonio Kast, has taken his first major step on immigration, launching plans for a fortified barrier along the country’s northern border just days after entering office.
A Russian drone attack damaged industrial, port, and energy infrastructure in Ukraine's southern Odesa region overnight. The strikes disrupted power supplies in several settlements, prompting local authorities to switch critical facilities to backup power generators.
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