Afghans flee collapsing Iranian economy amid US conflict, returning to strict Taliban rule
Only 29% of Afghans who recently returned from Iran said they had any savings left after their average income fell by nearly one-third compared to pre-crisis levels.
Mohammad Saeed, barely 18 years old, fled Afghanistan for Iran alongside his parents and siblings in 2021, when the Taliban regained control. As Iran's economy crumbled due to the US-Iran conflict and Israeli involvement, Saeed and his family returned home, lacking anything but their clothes. The Iranian rial's value plummeted, eroding Saeed's family's savings by two-thirds.
Once renowned for its industrial prowess, Iran's economy now grapples with severe inflation, with food prices soaring by nearly 90% year-on-year. This crisis has compelled thousands of Afghans to return, despite the Taliban's stringent restrictions on women's rights and freedom. The returnees, who left Iran due to the war, now face the harsh reality of poverty and limited opportunities in Afghanistan.
Some, like 40-year-old Sayed Jawed Qazi Khani, found work in Iran's bazaars but now engage in day labor, earning the same wages as before. Despite their hardships, many Afghans see no alternative to returning to Afghanistan, even if it means abandoning the freedom they once had.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
