TEHRAN -- Iranian Foreign
Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian has called on the Taliban to bring to justice those behind the 1998 terrorist attack against the Islamic Republic’s consulate in the Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif.
Amir-Abdollahian made the call in a post on his Instagram account on Thursday, marking the 24th martyrdom anniversary of eight Iranian diplomats and a journalist in Mazar-i-Sharif.
Amir-Abdollahian said the day named the Journalists Day is of special significance because “if it were not for the round-the-clock efforts of journalists to reflect the realities, the activities of the diplomats and politicians would be in vain.”
“It is journalists that neutralize the enemy’s plots and psychological warfare both in the international and domestic arenas, and are the flag bearers of explaining the facts,” the top Iranian diplomat said.
He said it is the responsibility of the country’s diplomacy to follow up on various aspects of the tragic incident.
In a statement issued on Monday, Iran’s foreign ministry paid tribute to the diplomats. The ministry also demanded measures to be taken by Kabul to clarify the circumstances that led to the incident.
The nine Iranian citizens were martyred after militants, allegedly affiliated with the Taliban, entered the city of Mazar-i-Sharif.