TEHRAN — In the wake of its 12-day war with Israel, the Islamic Republic has dramatically escalated its deportation of Afghan migrants, citing national security concerns and growing allegations of espionage. 

What was once framed largely as a response to economic and social pressure is now being justified as a strategic security measure, triggering alarm both in Kabul and within international institutions.

Iran's interior minister, Eskandar Momeni, confirmed in a state television interview on Monday that over 400,000 "undocumented" Afghans have been deported since mid-March, part of what he described as the enforcement of new legislation aimed at tightening migration controls. 

But the timing of the recent surge is noteworthy. While Iran has long hosted millions of Afghans — some fleeing decades of conflict, others in search of jobs — the sudden intensification of the removals comes after Israel's large-scale strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and military targets. In the postwar narrative pushed by hard-line Iranian media, allegations have emerged that some Afghan migrants were involved in espionage for Israel's Mossad, stoking nationalist rhetoric and prompting calls for mass deportation.