Iran Warns US Against Return To Afghanistan’s Bagram Base

He stressed that the two sides remain “coordinated and aligned” on regional and global developments.

Speaking to an Iranian news agency on 1 October, Sayadat said the effect of the sanctions is minimal because trade with Afghanistan is conducted mainly through land routes. He called for improvements at the Milak border, which links Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province to Afghanistan’s Nimruz province, including opening a second bridge to ease cargo movement and boost Chabahar’s role in Afghan transit trade.

According to Iranian officials, annual trade between the two countries through the Dogharoon crossing amounts to around $3 billion.

The remarks follow the European Union’s 29 September announcement that nuclear-related sanctions on Iran, previously suspended, had been reimposed after the activation of the snapback mechanism. The United Kingdom, France and Germany triggered the process a month earlier.

A resolution put forward by China and Russia to block the mechanism failed at the UN Security Council on 26 September, leading to the reinstatement of all UN sanctions on Iran at 3:30 a.m. local time on 28 September.

The European Union subsequently said it would once again freeze the assets of Iran’s central bank and several major lenders, while also reimposing bans on Iranian cargo flights to EU airports. Measures preventing the servicing of Iranian cargo aircraft and ships carrying prohibited goods were also reinstated.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry confirmed Tokumov’s visit but released no further details of the talks.

Both Qatar and Kazakhstan maintain close contacts with the Taliban despite not formally recognising the group.

At the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasised the importance of peace and stability in Afghanistan, saying inclusive development is key to ensuring long-term regional security.

On 29 September, the Taliban administration cut fibre-optic internet and telecom services nationwide, disrupting government institutions, halting banking and customs operations, and grounding flights.

In Washington, US Congressman Tim Burchett wrote to President Donald Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, calling the blackout “a flagrant assault on the Afghan people’s fundamental rights.” He urged the UN Security Council to condemn the move in a resolution.

Burchett later said the Taliban’s actions suppress Afghans and deepen the country’s isolation. Taliban spokespersons have not commented on either the shutdown or the subsequent restoration of services.

They said the outage has disabled registration systems, forcing officials to process cases manually. The disruption has stalled parts of humanitarian operations and left many migrants unable to receive cash assistance.

Registration and assistance for returnees from Iran and Pakistan are fully computerised, with aid groups providing both cash and non-cash support once individuals are entered into the system.

With services paralysed, many aid workers have left their posts, the sources said. Migrants are now facing mounting hardships and are calling for internet access to be restored.

In a statement, the rights group said the suspension of telecommunications services has disrupted commerce, media, health care and schooling.

“The Taliban’s moves to cut internet access harm the livelihoods of millions of Afghans and deprive them of their basic rights to education, health care and access to information,” said Fereshta Abbasi, HRW’s Afghanistan researcher. She urged the Taliban to end what she called a baselessly justified blackout.

The Taliban cut off internet and telecom services across the country on Monday evening, effectively shutting down businesses, airports, aid operations and television networks. Online classes, considered the last option for girls barred from schools and universities, have been halted.

A university lecturer told HRW that out of 28 students enrolled in his course, including 18 women, only nine managed to connect. The group said the blackout further isolates women and girls and closes off one of the few remaining avenues for learning, online work and access to services.

Activists warned the shutdown undermines community support programmes, particularly women-led initiatives. Journalists told HRW they have been unable to make domestic or international calls, even through platforms such as WhatsApp and Signal. Aid agencies also reported severe disruptions to relief efforts, which rely on connectivity for coordination.

“This is another crisis on top of the existing crises, and the impact is going to be on the lives of Afghan people,” said Indrika Ratwatte, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan.

HRW stressed that access to the internet is widely recognised as essential for the realisation of human rights. The UN Human Rights Office has previously warned that shutdowns can undermine freedom of expression, political participation, safety, education, work and health, while worsening social and gender inequalities.

Abbasi said Afghans were already isolated from the world, but the blackout has “completely cut them off.” She added: “The longer the Taliban internet shutdowns continue, the more harmful the consequences for both the people and the country.”