Expelled and exhausted: Afghans in Iran fight to rebuild their lives

A Woman’s Lost Opportunity and the Rising Tide of Deportations

Habiba, a 31-year-old Afghan woman who fled Taliban rule to pursue a master's degree in engineering in Iran, was deported in July just before she completed her studies. She returned to Afghanistan with little more than her laptop and documents—symbols of a future she nearly secured. Habiba is one of hundreds of thousands forced to return in recent weeks as Iran intensified its expulsions of Afghans, particularly after its conflict with Israel.

"I was so close," Habiba said at the Afghan border post of Islam Qala. She had saved enough to finish her thesis, the final step before graduation, but now faces starting over in a country where women are barred from high school, let alone university. The situation for women like Habiba has become increasingly dire under Taliban rule, which imposes strict restrictions on education and employment.

Aid agencies suggest that Iranian authorities' accusations of espionage by Afghan nationals for Israel have led to a surge in deportations. According to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), nearly 700,000 Afghans were expelled from Iran since the beginning of June. The two countries share a 920-km land border through a flat, arid landscape.

Iranian officials maintain that those deported were undocumented and most left voluntarily, citing security and resource concerns. Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni stated that 70% of the 1 million people who left since March did so by choice, according to local media. Nader Yarahmadi, an adviser to Iran’s Interior Ministry, said that temporary census cards held by about 2 million Afghan nationals were invalidated from March, giving them until July to leave. An additional 2.1 million Afghans in Iran had no documents, he added.

The number of Afghans returning exploded after Israel and Iran fought a 12-day war in June. UNHCR estimates that Iran deported an average of more than 30,000 Afghans each day during the war, a 15-fold increase from about 2,000 earlier. However, Iranian officials have downplayed espionage claims, calling them isolated media reports. The crackdown, they say, is on illegal immigrants.

Struggles at the Border

Aid workers at Islam Qala reported that some returnees arrived after days without food or water. While Momeni claimed deportations were conducted with "respect and dignity," he admitted the war triggered rushed exits, leaving many without their wages or possessions.

DISCOVER TREND interviewed 26 Afghans who had recently returned from Iran, many of whom described coming home to a country that now feels unfamiliar and unlivable. Most denied being illegal immigrants in Iran and said they had held some form of documentation.

Returning to Confinement

Rahela, 37, built a steady livelihood in Tehran as a certified makeup artist and seamstress. Now back in Herat with her two daughters, she says she sees no future. She separated from her husband several years ago after he struggled with drug addiction and has been raising her daughters alone ever since.

Under the Taliban's restrictions, women are barred from most forms of employment and from traveling long distances without a male guardian. "I have no helper and no male guardian (mahram)," she said. Her father, though a mahram, is elderly and unable to accompany her or provide support, leaving her effectively confined.

The flood of refugees returning to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan is straining aid in a country already grappling with economic collapse, donor fatigue, and a ban on girls' secondary education. However, the post-conflict purge from Iran has overwhelmed Afghan authorities and aid workers, many of whom say they were unprepared for the scale and speed of the deportations.

Broken Families and Uncertain Futures

The Taliban-led government has urged Iran to proceed gradually, allowing returnees time to settle financial affairs and retrieve personal property. While women who have returned speak of lost rights and opportunities, Afghan men describe split families, derailed plans, and an uncertain future.

Rahim Uzbek, 59, was arrested at his job as a security guard, deported alone, and now lives in a mosque near the Islam Qala crossing, away from his two wives and seven children who remained in Iran. He had some money tied up in an advance payment for rent in Iran, but the landlord did not return it.

"I have no assets or savings, nor do I have any shelter or place to stay," he said, with tears in his eyes. "I have no idea what to do."

Mansoor Ahmad, 21, a metalworker from Kabul, was arrested at work and deported without his family. He said Iranian officers accused him of helping someone escape a deportation camp and beat him when he denied it. "When I spoke, they beat me. When I stayed silent, they beat me again. Then they put me in solitary." Red marks and bruises were visible on his back and shoulders, consistent with being struck or kicked.

Security and Employment

Iranian officials deny systemic abuse. The Iranian chargé d'affaires in Kabul, Alireza Bigdeli, said there were no official reports of mistreatment but acknowledged "some may be unhappy with the way they were treated, detained, or returned." Iranian authorities claim they tried to prevent family separations but admit the post-war rush split some families. Students were encouraged to leave with relatives under a voluntary return plan.

While many Afghans say life in Iran was tough, marked by discrimination, high costs, and a constant sense of being unwelcome, they still had goals. Some worked, others studied. "The situation in Iran was very difficult," said Rahela. "People treated us harshly. They humiliated and insulted us. But at least there was security and work. Women could work... and that was good for us."