SAEDNEWS: A senior political adviser to Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has sparked controversy by defending the recent wave of Afghan deportations, claiming many were involved in espionage activities for Israel.
According to Saed News, following Israel’s recent attack on Iranian soil, Iranian security forces detained numerous Afghan nationals accused of spying and facilitating attacks through the supply of explosives and drones. These arrests, the adviser asserted, justified the broader campaign to expel undocumented migrants.
In a sharply worded statement, the adviser criticized those expressing sympathy over the deportations, stating: “I am astonished by the naivety and misguided compassion of those mourning the expulsion of illegal foreign nationals. Let’s not forget—if it weren’t for the timely and selfless intervention of the Basij forces, we could have witnessed much graver tragedies.”
He praised the Iranian police (FARAJA) for launching what he called a “delayed but necessary and defensible” operation. According to him, the crackdown is not only a matter of national security but also a reflection of “a widely shared public demand.”
The comments drew swift reactions across Iranian social media, where critics questioned the sweeping nature of the claims and warned against scapegoating vulnerable communities amid rising regional tensions. Nonetheless, the government appears committed to continuing deportations, citing intelligence assessments linking Afghan nationals to Israeli covert networks.
