Iran uses Afghan refugees to scare Europe

Ali Rajab

Iran’s mullahs are uncovering their ugly face. They have recently threatened to send an endless flow of terrorists and refugees to Europe.

Iran said it would expel Afghan refugees in case the US insisted to maintain its sanctions on it.

Iranian assistant foreign minister for political affairs Abbas Araghchi said his country would expel Afghan refugees if Iranian oil sales fell down to zero.

Around 3 million Afghan refugees live in Iran now, Araghchi told the official Iranian television.

He said his country would ask these refugees to live if American sanctions negatively affect the Iranian economy and Iranian oil sales fall down to zero.

He said 468,000 Afghan pupils study for free in Iranian educational institutions. Each of these pupils, he said, costs Iran 600 Euros every year.

Around 23,000 Afghan students study in Iranian universities as well, Araghchi said.

He said these refugees would decide whether they wanted to return to their country or choose another country.

“Iran will be obliged to take these measures if the US insists to move ahead with the sanctions,” Araghchi added.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani threatened Europe yesterday that his country would not be able to foot the bill for combating the smuggling of drugs and fighting terrorism if the nuclear deal falters.

Rouhani, who said his country would resume the enrichment of uranium, asked the Europeans to shoulder the responsibility of shielding themselves against the smuggling of drugs and the flow of refugees, things Iran helped prevent in the past.

Afghan rights advocate Fayza Hamzi lashed out at Araghchi for making his statements.

She wrote on Twitter that that Afghan refugees toil to pay for their study in Iran.

Iranian affairs specialist Mohamed Benaya said Araghchi’s statements clarify Iran’s new foreign policy.

The Islamic Republic, he said, would apparently use human issues with the aim of serving its own interests.

“The Afghans will be the card the Iranians use to serve their own interests,” Benaya told The Reference.

He expected Iran to also use the drugs and refugees cards to compel the international community into a course of action that serves its national interests.