Iran probing ‘death’ of illegal Afghan immigrants

Iran says it is investigating unconfirmed reports that five Afghan nationals were killed while attempting to illegally cross the eastern Iranian border.

“We have not received any official report from Afghan officials on the issue and Iranian authorities are investigating the veracity of the reports,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast told reporters on Wednesday.

“Iranian border guards fight drug dealers, human traffickers and etc. at the country’s eastern borders, but they are careful about people’s safety,” he added.

Mehman-Parast advised all foreign citizens to enter Iran legally and be cautious about human trafficking networks.

The turbulent situation in Iran’s eastern neighbors Afghanistan and Pakistan has increased the rate of illegal immigration and human trafficking.

Earlier this year, Iranian security forces arrested 18 Pakistani nationals at the southeastern Taftan border, when were attempting to enter Iran and cross into Turkey.