May 9, 2019

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has declared that Iran would consider asking Afghan refugees to leave the country if the United States continues to apply economic pressure in the aftermath of President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and promises to increase economic sanctions on the country. Subsequent statements by Iranian officials hinted that the Afghans would likely then look toward Europe for refuge.

In an interview on Iranian state television, Araghchi said, “For the last 40 years, we have accepted immigrants from Afghanistan. [Immigrants] have also come from other countries, such as Iraq and Azerbaijan, and whenever our neighbors faced problems, Iran accepted its brothers and sisters.”

Araghchi added, “Right now, more than 3 million Afghan citizens live in Iran, and according to some estimates they are holding more than 2 million jobs, and 3 or 4 billion euros leave our country, with those who make a living in Iran sending their money to their families in Afghanistan.”

Also according to Araghchi, there are more than 400,000 Afghans attending public schools in Iran, each costing the state 600 euros a year, and more than 23,000 college students, each costing 15,000 euros annually.

Araghchi said, “When American sanctions have an impact, and Iran’s financial resources are limited, and Iran’s oil exports become zero — which will not happen — we are forced to implement special policies for the economy, and it’s possible we will reach a point where we cannot continue paying these costs, and in that case, it’s possible that we will ask our Afghan brothers and sisters to leave Iran.”