TEHRAN- Hossein Amir Abdollahian, the Foreign Minister of Iran, has issued a warning that deliberate meddling by the United States in the internal affairs of Afghanistan will exacerbate the country’s already difficult condition.

Amir Abdollahian emphasized Iran’s commitment to peace, security, and sustainable development in Afghanistan at a meeting with UN Envoy for Afghanistan Roza Otunbayeva on Monday in Tehran.

According to the Foreign Ministry’s website, the Iranian foreign minister denounced the damaging role the U.S. played during its occupation of Afghanistan and issued a warning that the country’s position would worsen if the U.S. continued to meddle deliberately in Afghanistan’s domestic affairs.

He said that Iran is in favor of the UN helping the Afghan people.

The minister praised the good work done in Afghanistan over the last 20 years by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and stated that Iran is in favor of UNAM’s humanitarian missions in the neighboring nation continuing.

He urged the UN to give the issues careful consideration, citing the millions of Afghans living in Iran.

“Afghanistan’s problems are complex, so we should focus on diverse and multi-layered solutions,” the top Iranian diplomat added.

Additionally, he expressed Iran’s willingness to keep up its support of the neighboring countries’ endeavor to assist in resolving Afghanistan’s issues.

Otunbayeva, for her part, talked extensively on the most recent events in Afghanistan as well as the schedule for the next Doha 3 meeting in Qatar.

She praised the Iranian government and people for their gracious hospitality for the Afghan people and Iran’s attempts to improve their lot in life, but also blasted the international community for showing no concern for the humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan.

In addition, Otunbayeva recognized the intricacy of the circumstances and advancements in Afghanistan, emphasizing the necessity of coordinating the disparate perspectives of regional players in order to promote stability and progress in the country.

She also praised Tehran’s diplomatic efforts within the context of the conference of Afghanistan’s neighbors and praised Iran’s regional activities.

In a meeting with Otunbayeva on Monday, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Ali Bagheri Kani, called upon the United Nations and international organizations to prioritize efforts aimed at promoting peace, security, and prosperity in Afghanistan.

Bagheri Kani also emphasized the negative repercussions of the U.S. presence in the region, citing increased instability, insecurity, and the proliferation of terrorism and drug trafficking as significant concerns.

In his remarks, Bagheri Kani stressed the imperative for international bodies to place the welfare of Afghan citizens at the forefront of their agenda, advocating for measures to enhance living standards and guarantee national security within the war-torn nation. 

Additionally, he urged Western nations, particularly the United States, to take responsibility for the repercussions of their prolonged involvement in Afghanistan, spanning more than two decades.

Furthermore, Bagheri Kani underscored the United Nations' pivotal role in facilitating peace and stability in Afghanistan, while also highlighting the importance of repatriating skilled Afghan nationals to contribute to the country's reconstruction efforts.

“Iran sees India as strategic partner”

In a meeting with Indian Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, held in Tehran on Monday, Amir Abdollahian stated that Iran views India as a trustworthy ally and seeks strategic ties with the South Asian nation based on mutual collaboration.

He also noted that Iran’s position on ties with India involves the development of strategic alliances. 

The Indian minister has visited Iran to sign a landmark deal on the development of Iran’s southeastern port city of Chabahar.

“We are prepared to promote cooperation with India with the bilateral and multilateral capacities and within the framework of BRICS and the Shanghai (Cooperation Organization),” Amir Abdollahian added.

He stated that Iran wants to collaborate with India for the long run and sees it as a trustworthy partner.

The agreement on the building of Chabahar Port and increased collaboration in the North-South Corridor were also praised by the foreign minister as ideal chances for the growth of commercial relations.

The Indian minister, for his part, stressed that the signing of the contract for Chabahar’s operation and equipment signified a turning point in the history of the two nations’ relationship as well as their regional ties.

According to Sonowal, the deal is anticipated to increase commerce, fortify ties between Iran and India, and provide India greater opportunities to participate actively in the global supply chain and marine industry.

He said that the agreement will also lead to the establishment of a different economic route that will help Afghanistan, Iran, India, and the countries of Central Asia.

Iran and India have decided to work together through the 10-year agreement announced in Tehran on Monday to equip and run the freight and container terminals at Shahid Beheshti Port in Chabahar through the India Ports Global Ltd (IPGL).

India has committed to spending $250 million on Chabahar’s transportation infrastructure and $120 million on the port’s vital equipment supply.

India committed to providing funding for the expansion of the Iranian port in 2016, but the U.S. sanctions that were reinstated following Washington’s unilateral departure from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) caused the project to come to a standstill two years later.