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Several Afghan migrants have died due to extreme cold while attempting to illegally cross the Iran–Afghanistan border, Iranian media reported, citing officials from Iran’s border forces in Razavi Khorasan province.
According to Iranian authorities, the exact number of deaths has not been confirmed.
However, the bodies of the deceased Afghan nationals were handed over to Afghan officials through the Dogharoon border crossing.
Iranian border force officials said the migrants were trying to enter Iran during harsh winter conditions by using mountainous and unofficial routes, where they were exposed to freezing temperatures and severe weather.
An Iranian security official said that during the same incident, several other Afghan migrants were rescued in time.
Border forces moved them to safe locations and provided medical assistance, as many were found in critical condition due to prolonged exposure to cold.
Earlier, local authorities in Afghanistan’s western province of Herat had reported that at least three Afghan migrants died along the Iran–Afghanistan border because of severe cold.
However, officials warned that the actual number of deaths could be higher due to the difficult terrain, lack of access and the use of unofficial crossing routes.
The incident comes amid ongoing Iranian crackdowns on undocumented Afghan migrants.
Many Afghans continue to risk dangerous border crossings in search of work and better economic opportunities.
During winter, temperatures in border areas drop sharply while snowfall, lack of shelter, and absence of basic facilities turn such journeys deadly.
Human rights and refugee organizations say limited access to legal and safe border crossings forces Afghan migrants to rely on human smugglers and dangerous routes, leading to repeated tragedies along the border.
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