Maisam Mehdipour, the Iranian deputy ambassador for media affairs, denied that Iranian border forces were shooting at Afghan refugees.

He said that the area where the Afghan refugees were said to have been shot was a "security zone" and that migrants should not move around the area.

On Thursday, Mehdipour denied the shooting of immigrants in a programme on the social network X, saying that the "enemy" intends to divert public opinion by publishing news of the shooting of immigrants.

According to reports, Iranian border forces had opened fire on a group of migrants in the Kalgan-Saravan area, in Sistan and Baluchestan province on the border with Pakistan.

"Separatist groups have been using this area as a corridor for the killing of civilians for years," the Iranian official said.

'Taliban must respond'

Mehdipour said that unauthorised movement should not take place from this area and that Afghanistan and Pakistan should be held accountable.

Regarding the reason for the migration of Afghans to Iran, he said, "The Taliban must be held accountable for migration. The Taliban's policies against women and restrictions on citizens have led to migration," he said, adding, "The Islamic Republic is not accountable to immigrants. The Taliban must respond."

The Iranian official also criticised the statements of the former Afghan government officials for voicing condemnation about the killing of refugees.

Improving the economic situation, ensuring security and legitimate governance in Afghanistan will prevent the phenomenon of migration, he said. "People inside Afghanistan should feel that they can live in it," he said.

He says that the people of Afghanistan are suffering from unemployment.