Afghanistan’s embassy to act within limits of 1961 Vienna convention: Khatibzadeh

Foreign Ministry spokesman has reacted to certain reports about future diplomatic activities of Afghanistan’s embassy in Tehran, specifying that the mission will only act within the constraints of the 1961 Vienna convention.

According to Press TV, speaking to reporters on Sunday, Saeed Khatibzadeh responded to reports carried by certain media outlets claiming that the Iranian government is planning to hand over the Afghan embassy in Tehran to the Taliban.

“The diplomatic activities of the Afghan embassy in Tehran, like all foreign embassies, are within the framework of the principles and rules defined by the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and no outside developments are possible,” Khatibzadeh said.

A day earlier, the Taliban foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, arrived in Tehran while heading a high-ranking delegation to hold talks with Iranian officials in a first such trip since the group seized power.

According to the Foreign Ministry, economic cooperation between the two countries is to be discussed with the Afghan delegation, comprised of the caretakers of the ministries of economy, industry, and trade of Afghanistan as well as the deputies of several ministries.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has always emphasized the need to maintain economic and trade relations between the two countries in the interests of the people of the neighboring country (Afghanistan), especially in the current situation,” the ministry’s public relations department said in a statement on Sunday.

It added that during the trip, agreements would be reached on various economic and trade issues such as banking cooperation, cross-border markets, mining, trade, and sports cooperation.

SS