Ismail Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has described the decision to recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan as a “legal-political” matter, saying that Tehran will make the necessary decision once it reaches a conclusion on the issue.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, 26 Asad (August 17), Baghaei said that, regardless of the issue of formal recognition, Iran has continued its relations with Afghanistan across various areas and is working to expand those ties.
“Recognition is a legal-political issue. Once we reach a conclusion, we will make the necessary decision on this matter. However, this issue should not prevent us from maintaining or strengthening our relations in various areas,” he said.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson described relations between Tehran and Kabul as good across various sectors, saying that Iran and Afghanistan, as two neighboring and Muslim countries, share extensive cultural and historical ties and should take each other’s concerns into account in their bilateral interactions.
Baghaei also emphasized the need to utilize the economic and trade potential between the two countries, saying that Iran and Afghanistan can take advantage of existing opportunities to expand economic and commercial cooperation.
In the early years following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, Iran maintained diplomatic engagement with the group while emphasizing the need for an inclusive government in Afghanistan. However, Iranian officials have not in recent months stated a clear position on the political structure of the current Afghan government.
At present, relations between Tehran and the Taliban are close, and Iranian diplomatic missions continue to operate in Afghanistan. Afghan diplomatic missions in Iran are also under the control of Taliban-appointed diplomats, while diplomatic relations between the two sides continue at a practical level.
Despite this, Iran has not formally announced that it recognizes the Taliban government as the government of Afghanistan. Tehran continues to defer a final decision on the matter pending its legal and political deliberations.
Nearly five years after the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan, Russia remains the only country to have publicly recognized the Taliban government as the government of Afghanistan.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
