A senior Iranian lawmaker warned that if US forces return to Afghanistan’s Bagram air base, regional powers will escalate their confrontation with Washington and turn the base into a “graveyard for American soldiers.”
Abolfazl Zohrevand, a member of Iran’s parliament and its National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, told the Iranian outlet IRAF that a US return to Bagram would run counter to the interests of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. He said China had already raised concerns over the issue in talks with Taliban Defence Minister Yaqoob Mujahid.
Zohrevand argued that the US is seeking to offset its 2021 withdrawal defeat, adding that China, Russia, Iran, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have the capacity to resist American pressure. He described Bagram as a “dagger” pointed at Russia, China and Iran, and warned regional states would back Taliban opponents if US forces return.
His comments follow repeated calls by US President Donald Trump for Washington to retake Bagram. Trump warned last week that “bad things” would happen if the Taliban did not hand over the base.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid rejected Trump’s remarks, saying Bagram is Afghan territory and urging the US to engage diplomatically. China’s Foreign Ministry also stressed respect for Afghanistan’s sovereignty and cautioned against fuelling regional tensions.
