Kabul Embassy Donation Appeal Raises Questions as Militias Enter Iran

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Afghanistan released a statement saying it is ready to receive financial donations from Afghan citizens. According to the statement, this step comes in response to “repeated requests from Afghan nationals to provide support and financial backing” following what it described as “American and Zionist military aggression.”

The announcement comes amid growing backlash over images showing maneuvers by Fatimiyoun forces in Iranian cities. The group, made up of Afghan Shiites who have been involved in regional conflicts in recent years, has drawn attention online, with the images circulating widely on social media and raising questions about the role, status, and purpose of their presence in Iran.

In recent days, visuals shared by Iranian state media have suggested the arrival of Fatimiyoun, Zaynabiyoun, and Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces), all proxy and paramilitary groups linked to the Islamic Republic, inside Iran.

There is also speculation that these forces may be present to suppress “potential protests,” manage security checkpoints, and prepare for “potential encounters with American ground forces” within the country.

So far, officials of the Islamic Republic have not explained the reason for or the exact role of these groups operating inside Iran.