Iran Doubts US Intentions in Afghan Peace Process, Deputy FM Says
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi said Tehran has doubts about Washington’s intentions in a so-called peace deal between the Taliban and the US, calling for intra-Afghan talks with the participation of all political factions.
Iran doubts the US’s intentions for the peace process in Afghanistan for many reasons, and it sees America’s presence in Afghanistan as “dangerous” and that of a "troublemaker" in the region, Araqchi told TOLOnews on Monday.
He added that the focus should be on intra-Afghan negotiations, under the current circumstances.
Elsewhere in the interview, Araqchi rejected reports that the Taliban has an office in Iran.
“As we have had contacts with all groups, we also contacted them (Taliban) and listened to their views and expressed our own views,” the senior diplomat pointed out.
Araqchi added, “All are aware who created the Taliban and supported it and who is now holding talks with them and making a deal with them. It is a clear reality that the United States considers itself an ally of Afghanistan and has also negotiated with the Taliban and reached an agreement with them. We have no such relations with the Taliban.”
Araqchi visited Kabul on Wednesday. He headed a high-ranking delegation to follow up the agreements reached during a visit by Hanif Atmar, Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister, to Tehran on June 21-22.
