Iran’s UN Ambassador Saeed Iravani told the Council that international funding for Afghan refugees in Iran is projected to decline by more than 60% in 2026.
“Iran has borne a disproportionate burden for decades by hosting millions of Afghan refugees while itself being subjected to severe unilateral sanctions. This responsibility has imposed immense economic and security pressures, with annual costs reaching nearly ten billion dollars, in the absence of adequate international support,” he said.
Iravani said Iran’s annual costs for hosting Afghan refugees now approach $10 billion, covering health care, education, housing, infrastructure, security, and subsidies for food, fuel and electricity.
He noted that the figure reflects domestic expenditures rather than international aid, and argued that Iran has been left to shoulder these rising costs largely alone.
He said Tehran has repeatedly warned the UN and donors that it cannot sustain these pressures without substantial and reliable support, adding that the aid reductions undermine the principle of shared responsibility.
“Iran has repeatedly and unequivocally stated, including from this very podium, that it cannot and will not continue to shoulder alone the disproportionate burden of hosting more than six million Afghan nationals without genuine international solidarity, equitable burden-sharing, and tangible financial support,” Iravani said.
Separately, he dismissed comments by former US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad alleging that Iran is “summarily expelling” Afghan refugees, saying the claims “do not hold up to scrutiny,” adding that Iran is returning only undocumented Afghan nationals.
“The return of undocumented Afghan nationals has been conducted in full conformity with international law and humanitarian principles, with strict respect for human dignity,” he said.
Iran began returning undocumented Afghans in late June following a 12-day Israeli regime’s military aggression against the country, saying the measures apply solely to individuals lacking legal residency and are carried out in line with its international obligations.
Meanwhile, Iravani said the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) remains essential for addressing the country’s political, economic and humanitarian challenges, and that Iran supports the mission’s mandate and is prepared to work with the UN and regional partners.
He said the core issue continues to be the limited level of international backing for states hosting large Afghan populations.
The sharp 2026 funding cuts, he added, demonstrate that the international community has not met “even the most basic commitments” to assist Afghan refugees, leaving Iran to manage a burden it says must be shared globally.