RASC News Agency: In their latest endeavor, Iranian authorities have formally declared, through the deployment of a banner in Mashhad’s Friday market, that “Attention, esteemed citizens,” all foreign nationals, whether documented or not, are prohibited from participating in any activities—be it as street vendors, laborers, apprentices, or carriers—across all mobile markets (Friday market, Thursday market, night market, around the shrine, and so forth). This banner was erected on Saturday morning, December 23rd. Just a short while ago, the Mehr News Agency reported that Afghanistanis had claimed the top position in terms of investment in Iran.
Conversely, it was stated that the employment of foreign nationals is forbidden within a three-kilometer radius of the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS). The Mehr News Agency report highlighted that the issue of the legal or illegal entry of Afghanistani nationals into Iran is a matter for the Ministry of Interior to investigate and address. Another salient aspect is that the presence of Afghanistani nationals in Iran has also yielded opportunities for the Iranian economy. According to this report, one of the most substantial contributions Afghanistanis have made to the Iranian economy, largely overlooked by the media, is their investment opportunities in Iran.
It is asserted that the dual narrative of the Mehr News Agency report has given rise to a peculiar paradox, wherein those holding the top rank in investment in Iran find their presence and activities restricted around the shrine, the most pivotal investment location. This unfolds amidst the intensification of stringent measures against Afghanistani citizens in neighboring countries, particularly Iran and Pakistan, with reports indicating a significant decline in access to basic living facilities for Afghanistani residents in these nations.
