Taliban have no office in Iran: Deputy foreign minister

The Taliban militant group has no office in the Islamic Republic, says Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, rejecting reports claiming otherwise.

Abbas Araqchi made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Afghanistan’s Tolo news agency the summary of which was published by IRNA on Sunday, emphasizing, “The Taliban has no office in Iran.”

The diplomat added that the group “may have established a council” in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad, “but this does not concern us.”

Araqchi said Iran has been in contact with the Taliban over the past few years, noting, “As is the case with other (Afghan) groups, we have been in contact with them as well. We heard their opinions and expressed ours as well."

“Everyone knows who has created and supported the Taliban and who is holding negotiations and dealing with them right now,” the senior Iranian official said.

“It is a fact that the United States, which considers itself as Afghanistan’s ‘ally’, has negotiated with the Taliban and made a deal with them. We have no such relationship with the Taliban.”

Washington, Araqchi added, has held official talks with the Taliban in the absence of the Afghan government and made a deal on the country's future. "We have no such relationship with the Taliban."

SS