Iran's Foreign Minister's First Visit to Kabul in Nearly 8 Years – Meeting with Taliban Government, Discussion on Refugee Return

Iran's Foreign Minister's First Visit to Kabul in Nearly 8 Years – Meeting with Taliban Government, Discussion on Refugee Return

Tehran, January 26, 2025 – Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi has met with top officials of the Taliban government in Afghanistan, marking his first visit to Kabul since 2017. The discussions focused on border tensions between the two countries, the situation of Afghan refugees in Iran, and the implementation of the Helmand River water-sharing treaty.

Aragchi stated that Iran is committed to the return of 3.5 million Afghan refugees and has no intention of interfering in the domestic politics of its neighboring country. He also emphasized the need for the full implementation of the Helmand River water treaty.

On the other hand, Taliban Prime Minister Hassan Akhund called on Iran to treat Afghan refugees with kindness and stated that it is not feasible to repatriate a large number of refugees immediately. He also mentioned that incidents such as the execution of Afghan citizens in Iran have caused public outrage.

While Iran has not formally recognized the Taliban government, it has maintained political and economic ties and has allowed the Taliban to manage Afghanistan's embassy in Tehran.