A group of Afghan migrants near a camp from where they are sent back to Afghanistan.

Iran’s top official for migrant affairs has said that the deportation of undocumented Afghan migrants has led to a 30% reduction in crime in Tehran, a claim that has drawn criticism from rights groups amid a broader crackdown on migrants.

“With the exit and expulsion of undocumented foreign nationals, we have seen up to a 30% reduction in crime in some provinces,” said Nader Yarahmadi, head of the foreign nationals and migrants affairs centre at Iran’s interior ministry.

He added that crime statistics cited by police did not apply to all Afghan migrants and should not be generalised.

Iranian authorities refer to undocumented migrants as “illegal foreign nationals”.

Yarahmadi said deported migrants are required to pay the cost of their return, which he put at about 1.5 million rials, with the funds transferred to the state treasury. He said those who leave voluntarily face fewer restrictions, including greater choice over travel arrangements while staying in holding camps.

He added that Afghans who re-enter Iran after being deported would face fines and judicial proceedings.

Iran has intensified deportations of Afghan migrants following its recent 12-day conflict with Israel. In recent weeks, the country has deported an average of up to 400 Afghan migrants a day through both forced and voluntary returns, according to Iranian officials and media reports.

The policy has drawn criticism from human rights organisations and migrant advocacy groups, who say deportations risk exposing returnees to poverty and insecurity, but Iranian authorities have continued the campaign.

Yarahmadi has previously said around 5 million Afghan migrants live in Iran. He said 1.6 million undocumented Afghans have been deported since the launch of a programme targeting unauthorised migrants.

In an interview with ISNA news agency, Yarahmadi said that subtracting those deported from an estimated 6.1 million Afghans who had been in the country would leave about 4.5 million remaining, adding that between 400,000 and 500,000 Afghans move in and out of Iran irregularly.

He also said re-entry by undocumented Afghan migrants has increased in recent months.