Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called on Afghanistan's people, specially the country's elites, to be aware of the conspiracies hatched by enemies to wreak havoc on the Muslim nation, and voiced Tehran's willingness to help Kabul to move towards sustainable peace.

Speaking to Chairman of the High Peace Council of Afghanistan in Tehran Salahuddin Rabbani on Saturday, Zarif said that Iran’s principled stances are based on supporting unity, territorial integrity, political and economic development of Afghanistan.

The top Iranian diplomat, meantime, called for vigilance of Afghan political and cultural elites, especially ulama, against plots hatched by the country's enemies to create rift among nation, and urged convergence and solidarity of Afghan people from different walks of life on the eve of presidential election in the country.

He underlined Iran’s all-out support for current efforts of the High Peace Council of Afghanistan to deepen stability and security in the country and said Iran is prepared to continue consultations with Afghan officials to that end.

Late in December, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific and Commonwealth Affairs Ebrahim Rahimpour expressed deep concern about the negative impacts of a Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) between Washington and Kabul for the Afghans and even the entire region, saying that Iran and Afghanistan have a plan to widen their security cooperation to confront the BSA's unpredictable outcomes in a proper manner.

“We do not consider the Afghan security agreement with the US beneficial for Afghanistan’s future and we have concerns about it. We have already clarified our stance,” Rahimpour said.

“Given our concerns and the needs of both sides, an agreement has been made between Iran and Afghanistan, which is on the agenda (to be implemented),” he added.

Also in December, Afghan Foreign Ministry Spokesman Janan Mosazai said, “Tehran and Kabul are going to sign a security, economic, cultural and political agreement soon.”

He underlined that the relations between Iran and Afghanistan have considerably improved in the past 10 years and President Hamid Karzai’s recent visit to Iran has further consolidated the two countries’ relations.

The agreement is due to ensure the long-term interests of Iran and Afghanistan with respect to the regional peace and security.

Iran is one of the most important donors to Afghanistan, which has kept its promises to help to the reconstruction of the war-ravaged country.

Iran has built several roads, power transmission lines, border stations and many other infrastructure projects to better link the two nations.

Iran has also contributed more than $50mln annually to Afghan anti-narcotics efforts during the last five years.

Tehran has repeatedly called for a withdrawal of the US-led foreign troops from Afghanistan, stressing that establishment of peace and security in the war-ravaged country is possible only through cooperation among the regional states.
 

News ID 186105