The United Nations has expressed concern over a potential increase in Afghan migrants returning from Iran, warning that many could face heightened vulnerability upon arrival in Afghanistan.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said its primary concern remains the safety and protection of Afghan returnees, particularly as regional tensions continue to affect migrant communities.

According to the agency, there has not yet been a significant rise in the number of Afghans returning from Iran despite ongoing instability and conflict in the wider region. However, UNHCR said it is preparing for the possibility of a sudden influx.

The agency noted that contingency measures are already being put in place at key border crossings, including Islam Qala, to ensure that humanitarian assistance can be delivered quickly if return numbers increase.

UNHCR said it is currently providing a range of support services for Afghans returning from Iran, including cash assistance, protection services, temporary shelter, healthcare and registration.

Deputy UNHCR spokesperson Faramarz Barzin said the organization is closely monitoring the situation while prioritizing the protection of vulnerable returnees.

“Our primary concern continues to be the safety and protection of Afghan returnees, who are particularly vulnerable under the current circumstances,” Barzin said.

 “Although we have not yet observed a significant increase in returns from Iran, UNHCR is actively preparing for the possibility of a rise in arrivals.”

He added that precautionary measures are already underway at major border crossings, particularly at Islam Qala, to ensure rapid assistance if the number of returnees grows.

The warning comes as humanitarian organizations report continued forced or pressured returns of Afghan migrants from both Iran and Pakistan, a trend that could further strain Afghanistan’s already fragile humanitarian situation.

UNHCR said it is working closely with international partners to monitor developments and adapt its response to meet the needs of vulnerable groups, including women, children and people at heightened risk.

Many Afghan migrants return under pressure from host countries or due to fears linked to regional tensions. Once back in Afghanistan, many face significant challenges, including poverty, unemployment and a lack of adequate housing.

An email from 2011 shows that American billionaire Tom Pritzker described a trip to Afghanistan to financier Jeffrey Epstein, including a meeting with then–U.S. commander general David Petraeus.

In the message, Pritzker wrote that during his visit he had spent time with Petraeus, who at the time commanded U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan during the height of the war. Pritzker said the general had lent him two helicopters for travel during the trip.

“I am in a remote valley of Afghanistan (it’s my birthday wish) with Boys with Toys. Spent time w(ith) Patraeus yesterday and he loaned me a chopper (actually two with one as a back up). Can’t call till tomorrow,” the email read.

The correspondence surfaced among documents showing that Pritzker and Epstein had exchanged emails over several years regarding travel plans, meetings, and events. The revelations drew renewed attention due to Epstein’s criminal history and the scrutiny surrounding individuals who maintained contact with him.

Epstein, a wealthy financier with extensive connections in business and politics, faced multiple accusations of sexually abusing underage girls.

He was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges but was later found dead in a New York jail cell that August in what authorities ruled a suicide.

The emails emerged as part of broader disclosures involving Epstein’s network of associates.

Following the public release of the correspondence, Pritzker stepped down as executive chairman of the board of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, a major global hotel chain controlled by the influential Pritzker family.

At the time of the email exchange in 2011, Afghanistan was still the center of a large international military operation led by the NATO and the United States Armed Forces.

General Petraeus was overseeing counterinsurgency operations against the Taliban while also managing relations with Afghan authorities and coalition partners.

The disclosure has raised questions in media and policy circles about the nature of high-profile civilian visits to conflict zones and the broader network of relationships surrounding Epstein prior to his arrest and death.