TEHRAN - Lalini Veerasamy, the head of the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) office in Tehran, has expressed profound admiration for Iran's exceptional services provided to immigrants.

During a meeting with Behrang Qorbani, the director of the Bureau for Foreign Immigrant Affairs in Fars Province, Veerasamy remarked that she and her colleagues have witnessed the vastness and quality of Iran's immigrant support systems in ways unparalleled in their global experiences.

"Despite the limitations Iran faces, we are deeply impressed by the exemplary services offered to immigrants," Veerasamy stated.

Qorbani emphasized that foreign immigrants in Iran are granted equal access to healthcare, education, and other essential services as Iranian citizens, without any discrimination.

He, however, acknowledged the need to empower immigrants to facilitate their voluntary return to their home countries. The local official urged the UN official to assist in creating pathways for these individuals to achieve their goals.

"While providing welfare services is crucial, it is equally important to empower immigrants so that they can eventually return home," Qorbani pointed out.

Iran is home to a large population of Afghan immigrants and refugees, who have been forced to flee their war-stricken nation for more security and better economic chances. 

In recent decades, Afghan immigrants have become a deeply integrated minority in Iranian society. However, the collapse of Afghanistan's economy following the Taliban takeover in 2021 has forced hundreds of thousands more people to seek refuge in Iran, a host country that’s facing its own financial and economic woes due to heavy U.S. sanctions. 

The cessation of humanitarian aid and the freezing of billions of dollars of Afghan assets by the U.S. have further hindered efforts to stabilize Afghanistan. Estimates suggest that the number of Afghan refugees in Iran now exceeds 3 million. However, some have put the number between 6 to 7 million.

While Iran has demonstrated its humanitarian commitment to providing shelter and services to the newly arrived refugees, it believes they should be given the chance to return home with dignity and respect in the future. At the same time, Tehran has called on the international community to share the burden and support Iran's efforts to ensure that these individuals can live in safety and dignity, both in the present and in the future.