‘Iran Always Ready to Help Afghanistan’

Date: 16 March 2019 - 21:31

News ID: ۶۴۳۱۷

TEHRAN (Dispatches) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a meeting with President Ashraf Ghani's special envoy for peace Mohammad Omar Daudzai assured him of Tehran's permanent support for the Afghan people and government.
"We always believe that the Afghan people should have the final view on all issues and therefore, the Afghan government is the decision-maker as the representative of the country's people and Iran is always after assisting the Afghan government and nation," Zarif said during the meeting in Tehran on Saturday.
He also underscored the importance of peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Daudzai, for his part, lauded Iran's positive and sincere positions on Afghanistan, saying that peace talks in Afghanistan should be held by the government.
During the meeting, the two sides also discussed ways to further develop and deepen mutual cooperation.
In relevant remarks in November, Zarif had underlined that his country would make its utmost efforts to help the Afghan government to successfully hold peace talks in the country.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran has always supported peace talks in Afghanistan under the guidance and partnership of the Afghan government and it will use all its capacities to help the Afghan government along this path," Zarif said in a meeting with former Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Tehran.
In a meeting with an Iranian deputy foreign minister in September 2018, Chief Executive of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah underlined the importance of his country’s relations with Iran and said the relationship will never be affected by a third country.
Iranian officials have always voiced support for Afghanistan’s war against terrorism and extremism.
In 2016, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said Iran regards peace and security in Afghanistan as its own.
In June 2017, Iran and Afghanistan held the first round of talks on a "comprehensive strategic partnership” document as part of efforts to boost bilateral relations.
Iran participated in the second International Afghanistan Peace Conference with participation of regional and global players as well as friendly countries of Kabul which was held in Moscow on November 9.
Meeting of the "Moscow Format” on Afghanistan took place on November 9 in a closed format in Moscow in President Hotel. For the first time in an international meeting of this level was attended by the delegation of the political office of the Taliban in Doha.
Iran, Russia, Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, India, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan attended the event. The US was also represented by an expert from its embassy in Moscow.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (R) met with President Ashraf Ghani's special envoy for peace Mohammad Omar Daudzai in Tehran on Saturday