Iran’s approach to Taliban & Afghanistan: TV report

Description:

A recent TV report on Iran’s approach to the developing situation in Afghanistan. Below is a transcript of the report.

Source: Al-Mayadeen TV (YouTube)

Date: August 15, 2021

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Transcript:

Reporter:

Owing to its geographical location, Afghanistan is gaining an important geopolitical role, especially since it has direct borders with China and Iran. Therefore, it is natural for the developing situation in Afghanistan to be of concern and (to be) followed up by its neighbours before its opponents.

As for Iran, (its) approach towards what is happening in Afghanistan is close to the Russian and Chinese approaches in terms of its keenness to prevent the spread of chaos across its borders, such that Western states – particularly the United States – do not take advantage of the (ensuing chaos).

Thus, Tehran has emphasised on several occasions that the security of Afghanistan is (intricately) tied to the security of Iran, and it has stressed that the Taliban movement is a core component of the (political & social) fabric of Afghanistan.

Iranian officials determined that it was in their interest to receive all Afghani parties (for dialogue) whenever appropriate circumstances arose, and that (their interested lied) in maintaining friendly relations with successive Afghani governments.

In order to support the talks and exchange of views between the Ghani government and the Taliban – particularly after the situation began to deteriorate – the Iranian capital hosted internal Afghani dialogue with the participation of representatives from the (Afghani) government and the Taliban as well as political figures. Iranian officials considered this to be the best option in order to achieve stability in Afghanistan.

On the other hand, the Taliban, which expressed its deep sadness over the martyrdom of the head of the Quds Force, Qassim Soleimani – emphasising at the time (on the necessity of) fighting American brutality – has carried out repeated visits to Tehran. The most prominent (visit) took place at the beginning of 2021, when a delegation of the Taliban met Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

In light of the accelerating developments on the Iranian border, the Taliban pledged to ensure the safety of Iran’s (diplomatic) mission in the city of Herat, which is 150 km away from the Iranian border, at a time when the majority of the Afghani-Iranian border is (now) under the control of the Taliban.

Numerous indications (reveal Tehran’s approach to the developing situation), the most important of which is Iran’s efforts to alleviate the crisis in neighbouring Afghanistan in a manner that preserves the security and stability of all regional states, while continuing to encourage (internal) Afghani dialogue as an Iranian priority.


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