TEHRAN– Iran’s Foreign Ministry has urged the Afghan caretaker government to publicly announce the findings of its investigations into the assassination of Iranian diplomats and a reporter in Mazar-e Sharif on August 8, 1998, and to ensure that those responsible are held accountable. 

Iranian reporter Mahmoud Saremi was killed alongside eight diplomats during an ambush on Iran’s Consulate General. The attack happened as the military forces of the Taliban captured the strategic northern Afghan city, spurring street battles with Ahmed Shah Massoud-led Northern Alliance. 

In a statement issued on National Reporter's Day, the ministry emphasized, "The attack on Iran’s Consulate General in Mazar-e Sharif and the subsequent killing of Iranian diplomats and a reporter is a clear violation of international law," referencing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1267. The ministry further asserted its commitment to seeking justice, stating, "We reserve the right to pursue the various aspects of this painful terrorist act and respond to the noble nation of Iran and the grieving families."

The statement reiterated a call to the Afghan authorities, urging them to "announce the results of their investigations on the perpetrators of this crime and to punish them.”