Iranian foreign minister meets Taliban officials in first Kabul visit in eight years

Iran has said that it hopes to improve economic ties and bilateral relations with Afghanistan, during the first visit by an Iranian foreign minister to Kabul for eight years.

Abbas Aragchi, the Iranian foreign minister, held talks with senior Taliban officials in the Afghan capital on Sunday, with discussions centred around ongoing border tensions, the treatment of Afghan refugees in Iran and disputes over water rights.

Iran’s top diplomat met the acting Afghan Prime Minister Hassan Akhund, the Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and the Defence Minister Mohammad Yaqoob.

Aragchi expressed hope for enhanced economic ties and improved bilateral relations, acknowledging the “ups and downs” in the relationship between the countries, according to the Iranian news agency IRNA.

In a statement shared by the Taliban, Aragchi also said Iran was committed to the return of approximately 3.5 million Afghan refugees living in Iran.

The Afghan prime minister urged Tehran to treat its refugees with dignity, warning that a large-scale repatriation effort would not be feasible immediately.

He added that incidents like the reported execution of Afghans in Iran have heightened public tensions.

While Iran does not formally recognise the Taliban government, which took control of Afghanistan in 2021 following the withdrawal of US and NATO forces, Tehran maintains political and economic relations with Kabul.

Iran has also permitted the Taliban to manage Afghanistan’s embassy in Tehran.