Interior Minister: We Cannot Accommodate Six Million Foreign Nationals

The Interior Minister of the Islamic Republic stated that six million foreign nationals live in Iran, and the country can no longer accommodate them or provide subsidies and job opportunities. Iskandar Momeni said on Saturday, December 1, to reporters that international organizations provide minimal assistance to Iran to prevent the entry of foreign nationals. In the rhetoric of the Islamic Republic officials, 'foreign nationals' usually refers to Afghan citizens who reside in Iran legally or illegally. He added that part of the six million foreigners present in the country are staying 'illegally,' and the government cannot allocate 'so many subsidies and job opportunities' to foreign nationals. The claim that foreign citizens benefit from government subsidies is one of the reasons officials cite for intensifying restrictions against foreign nationals. This claim is made while the Iranian government has also been unsuccessful in meeting the basic needs of the Iranian people in recent years. The government's budget deficit has increased to the point that it can no longer provide subsidies and has reduced the foreign currency for essential goods from $15 billion to $12 billion. Previously, Abolfazl Abutalebi, a member of parliament, claimed in a television program that the total hidden subsidies and money that foreign nationals transfer out of Iran annually amounts to $21 billion. This claim does not align with official statistics. As the Iranian economy faces numerous instabilities, the Iranian government has increased pressure to expel foreign nationals. The Interior Minister referred to the rapid progress of 'blocking and constructing walls at the borders' and stated, 'The organization of foreign nationals starts from the zero border points.' According to him, one of the problems regarding illegal foreign nationals is their frequent movements, and the physical blockage of borders and wall construction is part of the measures to prohibit their entry. The Iranian Army Ground Forces stated that more than ten kilometers of wall have been built at the border with Afghanistan. The Interior Minister's reference is to the 'plan to block Iran's eastern borders with Afghanistan,' which, according to the National Immigration Organization, began this year with the construction of a four-meter concrete wall, barbed wire, and fencing, and is expected to be operational within three years. The Interior Minister also warned employers to properly implement 'the laws and regulations regarding the employment of foreign nationals.' According to current Iranian laws, foreign nationals cannot work in Iran unless they have a specific work visa and have obtained a work permit according to relevant laws and regulations. However, some Iranian employers use foreign nationals to reduce production costs due to lower wages. According to Article 11, Section C of the law, any employer who illegally employs foreign labor or acts in jobs other than those specified in the work permit is fined five times the minimum wage for each day of employment, and if the violation is repeated, this fine will double. The Deputy Minister of Employment stated on January 15, 2024, that about 'one and a half million' foreign nationals are legally employed with work permits, but the population of those without permits is estimated to be double this number.