Informed sources told media outlets that the Islamic Republic of Iran has closed the office that supported former Afghan military personnel, which was founded by the late General Ekramuddin Saree. The office assisted thousands of former soldiers and their families in obtaining residency documents in Iran.
According to the sources, about four days ago, Iranian officials asked the office's management to halt their activities until further notice, without providing a clear reason for the decision. This move comes as Iran has simultaneously stopped renewing the residency permits of hundreds of these former military members.
The office was established by General Saree, a former police commander, following the fall of Kabul and the mass migration of former security forces to Iran. Although Mr. Saree was assassinated in Tehran in January 2026, his office continued to operate. A source said about 17,000 former military personnel were registered with the office.
The closure of the office and the non-renewal of permits have left former Afghan soldiers facing uncertainty and the risk of deportation to Afghanistan. They warn that upon return, they would face the danger of arrest, torture, and even murder by the Taliban.
A source close to Saree's office confirmed that the residencies of hundreds of soldiers have not been renewed and that the process became more difficult after regional tensions increased. He added that there is evidence showing some former soldiers were arrested, tortured, or killed by the Taliban after returning from Iran.
As an example, the source mentioned the killing of a former soldier in Baghlan, who had returned to Afghanistan after his residency in Iran was not renewed and was recently killed by the Taliban in front of his family. It is unclear whether this policy shift by Iran is due to pressure from the Taliban or internal developments. Source: Afghanistan International
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