According to local media, the Imam Reza Return Center near Qiamdasht, previously bustling with activity, has seen a sharp decline in numbers over recent weeks.
Officials attribute the slowdown to a mix of logistical shifts and increasing reluctance among undocumented migrants to come forward.
While repatriation procedures remain straightforward, requiring only a verbal request and baggage scan, costs have reportedly risen, with some migrants paying up to 30 million rials (around $35 USD) for transport.
Despite more than one million Afghan nationals being deported from Iran since March, officials from Iran’s Ministry of Interior say daily repatriation rates have dropped from a peak of 29,000 to 13,000.
Analysts suggest many undocumented migrants are now going into hiding, hoping current enforcement efforts will ease.
Authorities have warned that enforcement is likely to intensify. “Unauthorized migrants must return via official channels,” said Tehran’s head of foreign nationals affairs.
New measures and updates are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.