**Iran’s Deportation Crisis: 1.5 Million Afghans Expelled Amid Espionage Accusations**

**As tensions rise, over 1.5 million Afghans have been forcibly returned from Iran amid claims of espionage, stoking fears and hardship among the displaced population.**

Iran is witnessing a profound crisis as it expels over 1.5 million Afghans, amidst allegations that some are spies for Israel following a brief conflict earlier this year. Afghans like Ali Ahmad, who experienced brutal treatment during detention, described their horrific experiences: "They treated us like animals," he recounted, sharing his ordeal at the border town of Islam Qala.

Iran currently accommodates more than four million undocumented Afghans, many of whom fled their nation due to ongoing conflict. In light of a new report by the United Nations, Iran has ramped up its deportation efforts. After a brief war with Israel in June, the Iranian government claimed to have national security concerns and began forcibly returning individuals, peaking at around 50,000 per day.

Reports have emerged of exacerbated anti-Afghan sentiment, as many officials and media outlets have tied the Afghan population to accusations of espionage for Israel's Mossad, which critics suggest could be a scapegoat for Iran’s failures in the conflict. Barnett Rubin, an Afghanistan expert, posits that Iran's embarrassment over its security vulnerabilities has prompted scapegoating of Afghans.

Iranians have voiced growing fears of being labeled as spies themselves. Anonymous individuals expressed anxiety surrounding the sweeping accusations of collaboration, with a frequent refrain being, "You Afghans are spies" or "You work for Israel." Similar allegations of espionage linked to the ongoing crisis have increased in frequency, as state announcements urged citizens to report suspicious behavior, particularly involving Afghan migrants.

Reports surrounding the conflict and subsequent detentions have also fueled public outcry. While some arrests of Afghans are indeed linked to undocumented status, widespread misinformation has cast a shadow on the Afghan community in Iran, manifesting in social media campaigns filled with false narratives. A hashtag calling for the "expulsion of Afghans" gained traction, exacerbating an already volatile environment.

As the Iranian regime experiences mounting pressure to justify its actions, the inflow of returning Afghan refugees adds to the strain on Afghanistan, which is already grappling with a massive humanitarian crisis under Taliban rule. Experts warn that the nation lacks adequate infrastructure to accommodate the return of its citizens, many of whom have faced similar expulsion from neighboring countries like Pakistan.

In the past, Iran's stance toward Afghan immigrants was generally welcoming. However, over time, a rise in anti-Afghan narratives has surfaced, fueling economic and social tensions. Incidents of violence and hate crimes against Afghans have spiked, recounting a painful history of scapegoating and blame directed at refugees during periods of national unrest.

Activists continue to voice concerns regarding the treatment of Afghan migrants, with over 1,300 Iranians and Afghan activists calling for humane treatment. Yet as deportations continue apace, many Afghans find themselves increasingly vulnerable amid the mounting animosity. "I lost everything," Abdullah Rezaee conveyed, reflecting the devastating impact that this sudden displacement has on individuals and families alike.