TEHRAN - Former Deputy Foreign Minister Ebrahim Rahimpour has said that Iran held talks with Taliban for security of its borders with Afghanistan.

In an interview with ILNA published on Saturday, he said that Iran’s talks with Taliban have been in line with protecting security of borders and helping peace process in Afghanistan.

He said Kabul has accepted that Taliban is part of the Afghan society.

The Foreign Ministry announced that Iranian diplomats held a meeting with a Taliban delegation in Tehran on December 30. Abbas Araqchi, the deputy foreign minister for political affairs, headed the Iranian negotiating team.

Araqchi met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in the Arg presidential palace in Kabul on January 5 to brief him about the meeting between Iran and the Taliban.

Defense Minister Amir Hatami also said last week that Iran’s talks with Taliban are aimed at restoring peace and stability to Afghanistan.

Major General Hassan Firouzabadi, a top military adviser to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, said on Wednesday that Iran can help the Taliban and the Afghan government reach a common understanding for stabilizing the central Asian country.

In an interview with IRNA, Firouzabadi said security in Afghanistan is very important for Iran.

NA/PA