Taliban pledge to protect Iran's diplomatic missions after attacks

The Taliban's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has assured Tehran of full security of Iranian diplomatic facilities, diplomats and staff in Afghanistan.

Muttaqi gave the assurance during a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian late Monday after mobs attacked Iran's Embassy in the capital Kabul and its consulate general in the western Afghan city of Herat. 

Expressing deep regret over the incidents, Muttaqi promised that the Taliban would “completely secure the diplomatic facilities, diplomats and staff of the Islamic Republic of Iran in his country”.

Online videos last week showed mobs attacking the Iranian Embassy in Kabul and the consulate general in Herat with stones, which damaged the missions.

The Iranian foreign minister criticized Afghan authorities for failing to take necessary measures to ensure the security of the premises, which is a responsibility of the host country.

No one was hurt in the attacks, which came amid fabricated claims of systemic mistreatment of Afghan refugees in Iran.

Despite sanctions and many other problems, Iran has been hosting millions of Afghans for decades amid wars and harsh living conditions in the Central Asian nation.

According to estimates, some 300,000 more refugees have entered Iran since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in mid-August. 

During the phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Muttaqi thanked the government and people of Iran for their hospitality in difficult times, stressing Kabul’s determination to expand relationship and cooperation with Tehran.

He assured that Afghanistan will spare no effort to alleviate Tehran’s concerns regarding the security of its diplomatic missions.

Afghans stage rally in support of Iran-Afghanistan unity

Afghan people hold a rally in front of Iran’s embassy in Kabul to show solidarity with neighboring Iran.

Amir-Abdollahian said "millions of Afghan brothers and sisters" living in Iran for the past 40 years have always been provided with necessary services.

The top Iranian diplomat touched on a wave of “malicious, calculated and false propaganda” on some social networks, saying it is spread by the “enemies and opponents of good relations between the two neighboring countries of Iran and Afghanistan."

“The Islamic Republic has a positive and constructive view about Afghanistan,” Amir-Abdollahian said.

Iran's exchange of delegations for cooperation between the two countries, sending humanitarian aid and keeping its missions active in providing services to the people of Afghanistan has been within this framework, he added.

The Taliban, which had previously ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, took power again on August 15 and subsequently announced the formation of a caretaker government.

The US administration has frozen nearly $9.5 billion in assets belonging to the Afghan central bank since the withdrawal of its forces from the country.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank have also suspended activities in Afghanistan, withholding aid as well as $340 million in new reserves.

This has dramatically affected the lives of Afghans, triggering a new wave of refugees who mostly head to Iran. 

Earlier this month, Iran's permanent ambassador to the United Nations said the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate, and the country is currently facing great challenges.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran, as a neighboring country, stands by the people of Afghanistan and has used its capacities and facilities to overcome the challenges it has faced over the last four decades,” Majid Takht-Ravanchi told a virtual UN donor conference co-hosted by Britain, Germany, and Qatar.

“Iran has hosted millions of refugees, who have unfortunately received the least international aid in the last 40 years. Iran has dispatched more than 30 shipments of humanitarian aid to Afghan people in recent months. This is just one example of the assistance that Iran has provided to the people of Afghanistan,” he said.

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