Over 600,000 Afghan Refugees Reside in Iran’s Razavi Khorasan
The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) has reported that at least 600,000 Afghan refugees, both documented and undocumented, are living in Razavi Khorasan province.
According to the report, 396,000 of these refugees hold valid residence documents, including refugee cards, work permits, and passports. However, at least 200,000 Afghan refugees in the province lack legal documentation. IRNA estimates that this number could rise to 300,000.
The report noted that Afghan migration to Razavi Khorasan increased significantly after the Taliban took power in 2021. By mid-2023, around 400,000 documented Afghan refugees were residing in Mashhad, the province’s capital.
Iranian authorities have also recorded the daily return of 300 to 350 undocumented Afghan refugees from Razavi Khorasan to Afghanistan.
In recent months, Iran has intensified restrictions on Afghan migrants. Authorities have banned them from employment and renting homes in several cities, further increasing the pressure on Afghan refugees living in the country.
