Alireza Bikdeli, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s ambassador to Kabul, visited Sarai Shahzada, one of Afghanistan’s main centers for foreign-exchange trading and financial transactions. The Iranian Embassy in Kabul published photographs of the visit on the social media platform X, describing Sarai Shahzada as “Afghanistan’s historic financial and monetary center.” However, the embassy did not provide any explanation regarding the purpose or details of the visit.
The Iranian Embassy also did not clarify whether Bikdeli’s presence at Sarai Shahzada was related to recent developments in Iran’s foreign-exchange market, the supply of US dollars, or mechanisms for transferring currency between the two countries. The visit took place on Sunday, 23 August, and so far, the Iranian Embassy has released no further details about the issues discussed during the visit.
In recent months, Bikdeli has emphasized the development of trade and economic relations between Iran and Afghanistan during meetings with Taliban officials. He has also spoken at joint business meetings about expanding economic ties and increasing commercial cooperation between the two countries, stressing the importance of strengthening economic relations between Tehran and Kabul.
The visit comes as the Iranian rial has fallen to historically low levels against the US dollar. At the same time, the illicit transfer of US dollars from Afghanistan to Iran has become a subject of growing attention in the foreign-exchange markets of both countries, with reports emerging of efforts to move currency from Afghanistan’s financial markets into Iran.
Various reports have identified Sarai Shahzada in Kabul as a major foreign-exchange trading center in connection with the illicit transfer of US dollars to Iran. Taliban authorities have also said in recent months that they are taking steps to prevent the illegal outflow of foreign currency from Afghanistan. However, no official details have been released regarding any connection between these measures and the Iranian ambassador’s recent visit to Sarai Shahzada.
Despite the visit, the Iranian Embassy in Kabul has yet to provide specific information about the issues discussed, the primary purpose of the ambassador’s presence at Sarai Shahzada, or any possible connection between the visit and the situation in Iran’s foreign-exchange market or the transfer of US dollars between the two countries. Therefore, without an official statement, no definitive conclusions can be drawn about the motivation or objectives of the visit.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
