Alireza Ahmadi, the Iranian Consul General in Mazar-e-Sharif, has announced that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has instructed officials to pursue "maximum engagement with Afghanistan."
According to IRNA, Ahmadi emphasised that the Islamic Republic of Iran is committed to strengthening its relations with Afghanistan in accordance with Khamenei’s directive.
He further stated that Khamenei advocates for regional issues to be resolved by the countries within the region, underscoring Iran’s stance on regional autonomy in addressing geopolitical challenges.
Ahmadi reiterated that Iran supports initiatives promoting peace and stability in line with its foreign policy objectives. He highlighted that the expansion of economic ties remains the primary focus of Tehran’s engagement with Afghanistan.
While Iran, like many other countries, does not officially recognise the Taliban, it has maintained extensive diplomatic and economic relations with the group.
In a significant diplomatic move, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi led a high-ranking political and economic delegation to Kabul on 26 January, where they held talks with Taliban officials.
