TEHRAN -- The Iranian
foreign minister has condemned recent deadly terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, raising the alarm at the rise of Daesh and other takfiri terror outfits in the conflict-ridden South Asian country.
Hussein Amir-Abdollahian told Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal, secretary-general of the Austrian foreign ministry, here that the rise of Daesh in Afghanistan is dangerous.
Daesh bombers attacked Shia mosques in the Afghan cities of Kunduz and Kandahar this month, martyring and injuring hundreds of innocent worshipers attending Friday prayers.
The terror attacks happened almost two months after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan amid swift advances on the ground, which many attribute to a hasty withdrawal of U.S.-led foreign forces.
Amir-Abdollahian called on the European Union to take “a more responsible approach” toward protecting the rights of Afghans displaced by violence.
He also praised Iran’s “longstanding and old” relations with Austria and said Tehran attaches great importance to bilateral ties with Vienna.
Moreover, he expressed hope for a growth in economic and trade ties between the two countries, appreciating Austria for providing COVID-19 vaccines to Iran.
Launsky-Tieffenthal, for his part, praised the friendly relations between Tehran and Vienna, and expressed hope that the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), would be revived with the participation of all parties.
He also denounced the latest terrorist acts in Afghanistan, saying Iran and Austria “have common concerns” about Daesh.
Additionally, he stressed Austria’s support for meetings of Afghanistan’s neighbors to help resolve the country’s problems.
On Sunday, Amir-Abdollahian pledged during a visit to the parliament to closely monitor the situation in Afghanistan
He said what is important to the Islamic Republic is the Afghan people and the Taliban’s behavior, adding Tehran will not take its decisions with regard to the country on the basis the militant group’s slogans.