Iran has issued orders for all "unauthorised foreign nationals" to leave the country as part of new policies communicated to the national police commander, according to official statements targeting Afghans, local media reported.

The announcement comes as Iran faces economic pressures and growing anti-Afghan sentiment regarding the presence of undocumented foreign nationals, particularly refugees who have sought shelter in the country following the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan. However, since the attacks by Israel and the US and the discovery of several spy rings of many Afghan refugees, the Iranian government is now seeking to remove many of them. 

Brigadier General Ahmad Ali Goudarzi, commander of Iran's Border Guard, said the management of unauthorised nationals represents a public demand from Iranian citizens, Tabnak reported on June 27, citing Mehr News Agency.

Under the new directive, any property rented to Afghans will have its lease agreements declared void, with such properties to be sealed and confiscated by authorities. The measures represent a significant escalation in Iran's approach to undocumented foreign residents.

Iran hosts one of the world's largest refugee populations, with millions of Afghans living in the country, many of whom fled decades of conflict in their homeland. The new policy signals a hardening stance toward those without proper documentation.

The directive affects not only undocumented individuals but also property owners who provide accommodation, indicating the government's intention to enforce compliance through economic penalties and property seizures.

Across the border, Taliban officials at the Islam Qala border crossing in Herat province have reported that more than 10,000 Afghan migrants enter Afghanistan daily through this route, with numbers reaching unprecedented levels following Iran's deportation orders.

Hazrat Zaeem Agha, director of Islam Qala customs, said approximately 70% of returnees are voluntary, whilst 30% are forcibly deported from Iran, Shahrar News reported on June 27. The increase follows tightened restrictions and ultimatums for the expulsion of undocumented foreign nationals from Iran.

Ahmad Allah Muttaqi, head of information and culture for Herat province, said June 26 witnessed the return of more than 30,000 Afghan migrants in a single day, marking the largest daily return in history. Services including cash assistance, food distribution, healthcare, free transport, internet and SIM cards have been arranged to manage the influx.

Naeem Wardak, deputy administrative and financial minister at Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry, confirmed the 30,000 figure represents the highest single-day return of Afghan migrants on record. Previously, approximately 3,000 Afghan migrants returned daily from Iran.

The massive influx has strained border facilities and prompted charitable organisations to warn of limited aid capacity. They have called for increased support and better coordination between governmental and non-governmental organisations to address migrants' needs.

Afghan writer Syed Rasoul Misaq has disputed Iranian media reports claiming 400 Afghan nationals were discovered in underground tunnels near Iran's Revolutionary Guard headquarters, calling such claims part of an "anti-migrant project" designed to scapegoat Afghans.

Misaq argued that Afghans lack access to military bases and high-ranking personnel required for sophisticated intelligence operations, questioning how Mossad could trust individuals under constant surveillance and deportation pressure with sensitive operations.