Iran's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Gholam Hossein Dehqani took the US and its western allies' military presence in Afghanistan responsible for continued insecurities in the war-torn country.

Dehqani made the remark on Thursday in a meeting of the UN Security Council on Afghanistan.

"The Islamic Republic regrets the rising number of casualties in Afghanistan," the Iranian envoy said.

He noted that Iran demands an end to strikes against the Afghan civilians under any pretext and by any party.

The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington's so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but the country is still grappling with insecurity.

Many civilians have also lost their lives in the US-led operations in various parts of Afghanistan over the past decade, with Afghans becoming increasingly outraged at the seemingly endless number of the deadly assaults.

Iran has on numerous occasions asked for a withdrawal of foreign forces from the region, describing it as the only way to restore peace and tranquility in this part of the world.

In relevant remarks in September, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi voiced Tehran's preparedness to extend more aid and assistance to its eastern neighbor Afghanistan, once the western troops withdraw from the war-torn country.

Addressing the opening of the jubilee session and IV meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the CICA member states in Astana, Salehi said, "Iran is also ready to take part in the construction of infrastructure projects in the country."

 

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