The Sanctioned Sanctuary: How Economic Pressure Creates Refugee Magnets

... Afghanistan's modern era, for fear of persecution—particularly those who had worked with international organizations, belonged to minority ethnic groups like the Hazaras, or were women apprehensive about rolled-back rights under Taliban rule. These refugees arrived under Iran's most restrictive policies to date, against a backdrop of rising inflation, escalating poverty, and high unemployment, exacerbated by U.S.-led sanctions and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most entered without authorization as Iran tightened ...