Iran introduces biometric screening along Afghanistan border

Iran has launched biometric screening for Afghan nationals at the Dogharoun border, expanding controls amid security concerns and continued deportations of undocumented migrants.

Iran has launched a biometric registration system for Afghan nationals at the Dogharoun border crossing, a senior provincial security official said, as Tehran steps up efforts to regulate cross-border movement.

Amirullah Shamqadari, deputy for security and law enforcement affairs of Iran’s Razavi Khorasan governorate, said the system aims to better manage the entry and exit of Afghan travelers into Iran. The biometric process records fingerprints, iris scans, facial data, and personal histories.

According to the state news agency IRNA, Iranian authorities plan to extend biometric registration to the country’s air borders in the near future, expanding monitoring beyond land crossings.

However, Shamqadari said deportations of undocumented Afghan migrants through the Dogharoun border continue, underscoring Iran’s tightening approach toward irregular migration amid economic strain and security concerns.

The move comes as Iran cites growing security risks linked to cross-border movements, including concerns over militant infiltration and undocumented travel.

Iran hosts millions of Afghans, many of whom fled decades of war, economic collapse, and political instability in Afghanistan. In recent years, Tehran has increased surveillance and border controls as migrant flows surged following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

Security concerns have intensified following recent reports of terror-related incidents involving former Afghanistan military figures, exposing flaws in Iran’s vetting and identity verification systems at border crossings and within cities.

Iranian officials say biometric screening will help distinguish lawful travelers from those posing potential security threats, while improving oversight of migration flows along the eastern border.

Human rights groups, however, warn that expanded surveillance and continued deportations could further expose vulnerable Afghan migrants to risks, calling for safeguards to ensure protection and due process.

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