Tehran (IP) - Deputy Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran for political affairs, in an interview with Afghan news channel 'Tolo News' about the claims on the presence of the Taliban in Iran and having an office, said: "The Taliban do not have an office in Iran."

Iran Press/Iran News:  Abbas Araghchi added that it is a fact that the United States, which considers itself an ally of Afghanistan, has negotiated with the Taliban about the future of Afghanistan without the presence of the Afghan government.

He also said about the Mashhad council: "The Taliban may have created the Mashhad council for themselves, but in our opinion, it is not relevant."

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister in response to a question of when Iran's contacts with the Taliban were established? said that it has been started for some time and if I want to explain its details, I can say for several years, adding "As we were in contact with all the groups, we were in contact with them (the Taliban), we heard their opinions and we expressed our opinions."

"Everyone knows who made and supported the Taliban and who is still negotiating with them," Araghchi said.

"It is an obvious fact that the United States, which considers itself as an ally of Afghanistan, has negotiated, made a deal with the Taliban. We have no such relationship with the Taliban.", highlighted Iran' senior diplomat

In response to a claim about Mullah Akhtar Mansour's presence in Iran in 2016, the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister said: "I am not aware of."

"Some people are trying to make Iran an enemy of Afghanistan, at least you did not fall into that trap," Araqchi told TOLO news in response to a question about allegations that Iran was equipping the Taliban.

Abbas Araghchi, Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran, who headed a high-level delegation to follow the agreements reached during Acting Foreign Minister Hanif Atmar's recent visit to Tehran and especially to finalize the text of the comprehensive document on strategic cooperation between the two countries, last Wednesday, met with Hanif Atmar in Kabul as well as other Afghan senior officials.

The two sides discussed bilateral relations, the peace process in Afghanistan and regional and international issues, including the problems caused by Corona, as well as bilateral and multilateral economic cooperation, including cooperation on Chabahar port and Central Asian transit routes. 

During the meeting, the two sides also agreed on a roadmap and a timetable for finalizing the comprehensive cooperation document.

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