Iran’s Pezeshkian Offers Cooperation with Afghanistan to Tackle Ongoing Challenges

In a significant development for regional diplomacy, Iran is poised to enhance its cooperation with Afghanistan, as President Masoud Pezeshkian met with Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi. During their discussion, they emphasized the need for dialogue and understanding to address existing challenges between the two neighboring countries.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Tehran Dialogue Forum 2025, an event that convenes senior officials and diplomats from 53 countries, including representatives from the United Nations. The forum is being held in Tehran over two days, on Sunday and Monday.

President Pezeshkian highlighted Iran’s commitment to supporting the Afghan people, stating:

“Based on our basic and strategic principles, we deem as unfounded any disputes among Islamic countries, and we consider the strengthening of brotherhood and cohesion as a reasonable substitute to any division in the Islamic Ummah.”

In response, Amir Khan Muttaqi praised Iran as a “well-intentioned and good neighbor.” He expressed Afghanistan’s desire to foster trust and positive relations with Iran. Key points from their discussion include:

• Shared Heritage: Iran and Afghanistan share deep-rooted religious, cultural, and linguistic ties.
• Common Views: Both nations hold aligned perspectives on international issues, notably the situation in Palestine.
• New Government in Afghanistan: After 47 years, Afghanistan has established a central government, promoting coexistence among various ethnic groups.
• Regional Cooperation: Afghanistan aims to adopt a balanced policy for constructive interaction with regional nations, especially Iran.

Muttaqi mentioned that the current volume of trade between Iran and Afghanistan stands at $3 billion. He expressed optimism that, with Iran’s assistance, Afghanistan can transform into a secure hub for regional trade and transit, particularly now that narcotics cultivation has ceased and the Daesh terrorist group has been expelled from the country.

Furthermore, Muttaqi expressed gratitude to Iran for hosting millions of Afghan refugees and mentioned efforts to facilitate their gradual return. He also emphasized the intention to turn borders into mutual opportunities and elevate trade through expanded economic cooperation.