Iran: No Way for US but to End Interference in Afghanistan

“We believe that intra-Afghan talks are the only peaceful and sustainable solution to (help) Afghanistan and therefore, we think that the only peaceful solution which will lead to stability is keeping the achievements of years of struggle for Afghanistan, where all Afghan groups will be able to play a role in its future,” Khatibzadeh told reporters on Wednesday.

“The US has no way but ending years of interference and aggression in Afghanistan and in this region and at least, decrease the suffering of the regional nations with responsible and committed withdrawal,” he added.

Khatibzadeh underscored that Iran’s position has never been dependent on developments or change of administrations in Washington, neither under former US President Donald Trump who was in a rush for fulfilling a series of measures nor today.

In relevant remarks earlier today, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani said on Wednesday that the country will not recognize the streams that ascend to power with war and violence in Afghanistan.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will never recognize a stream that wants to come to power through war in Afghanistan,” Shamkhani said in a meeting with the head of Taliban’s political bureau, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, and his accompanying delegation in Tehran.

He stressed the need for participation of all ethnic groups in deciding Afghanistan’s fate in a completely peaceful process.

Shamkhani described security of Afghanistan, specially in the provinces bordering Iran, as highly important, and underscored the need for Taliban’s cooperation with the Afghan government to fight against any insecurity and confront the ISIL terrorist group’s moves.

He referred to US record of atrocities and warmongerings in the region, and said, “The US does not seek peace and security in Afghanistan. The US strategy is to continue war and bloodshed among different groups in Afghanistan.”

Shamkhani said that the US is seeking to stage a show of peace talks with the aim of creating a deadlock in the negotiations among various parties in Afghanistan to blame them for insecurity and instability.

Abdul Ghani Baradar, for his part, presented a report on the peace process in Afghanistan, and voiced regret about Trump’s disloyalty to the implementation of the peace agreement.

“We do not trust the US and we will fight any stream that is the US mercenary,” he added.

“We believe that all tribes and groups should participate and play a role in the future of Afghanistan,” Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar said.

He also emphasized the necessity for the establishment of security at Afghanistan-Iran border, and voiced Taliban’s readiness to cooperate with Tehran in this regard.

Afghanistan’s foreign ministry declared in a statement on Tuesday that it is informed of a delegation of Taliban group to Tehran to negotiate with Iranian officials on the Afghan peace process.

“The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has informed the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan about the visit of the Taliban delegation to Iran and has already requested and received the views of the Government of Afghanistan in this regard,” the statement said.

Elaborating on the purpose of the Taliban delegation’s visit to Iran, it said in addition to a declaration of its views, Tehran informs the Taliban on the existence of a regional consensus on immediate ceasefire and a comprehensive peace agreement within the framework of the Republic system and preservation of Afghanistan’s constitutional values.

“Iran wants to ensure that the post-conflict Afghanistan is no longer a safe haven for the terrorist groups and remains a center of regional and international cooperation,” the statement added.

It expressed the hope that the Taliban would comply with the legitimate demands of the Afghan people to stop the bloodshed and ensure lasting peace.

Khatibzadeh said on Tuesday that a delegation of the Taliban group arrived in Tehran to negotiate with Iranian officials on the Afghan peace process.

Khatibzadeh said that Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and his accompanying delegation have come to Tehran upon the invitation of the Iran’s foreign ministry.

“The Taliban delegation is scheduled to meet with senior Iranian diplomats to talk about the latest developments regarding the Afghan peace process and the related issues,” he added.

In relevant remarks in December 2020, Iranian Ambassador to the UN Majid Takht Ravanchi said that his country supports the Afghanistan peace negotiations, stressing that Tehran places the interests of the Afghan people above all other interests.

Takht Ravanchi said during a meeting of the UN Security Council on Afghanistan on Thursday December 17 that Iran fully endorses the ongoing peace talks in Doha, noting that what is of the primary importance for his country are the national interests in Afghanistan.