Iran Urges Western States to Shoulder Responsibility Vis-à-Vis Afghan Refugees

"Supporting immigrants and refugees is an international issue and therefore bearing the responsibilities over them falls upon all countries," Araqchi said.

He underlined that for the last 40 years, Iran has warmly welcomed immigrants from Afghanistan and other countries, and whenever its neighbors faced problems, Iran accepted its brothers and sisters.

Araqchi, however, said other governments and international organizations, specially the western states that have been the cause of many sufferings for Afghan people, should also shoulder the responsibility of supporting them.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister said that it can be done by receiving the refugees in their countries or fulfilling their financial needs.

"There are about 468,000 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," he added.

The senior Iranian diplomat reiterated that expelling refugees is not on the government's agenda, and said, "However, should the US’ sanctions impact Iran's oil sale and reduce its revenues, Iran would have to consider new approaches toward them, hinting that Afghans would likely then look toward Europe for refuge."

In a relevant development in September 2018, Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli called on the European Union (EU) to help Tehran facilitate refugees' return to their homeland.

"We are trying to achieve a suitable management on the issue of refugees and this needs that both the European Union and the United Nations to concentrate on this issue," Rahmani Fazli said in a meeting with visiting United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi in Tehran.

He reiterated that the European countries should feel responsible and give the necessary help for the repatriation of refugees to their countries.

"Iran expects the Europe and affluent countries to help cover the costs imposed on host countries by refugees as international aid to this end is not acceptable," Rahmani Fazli added.

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