Accessibility links

Breaking News

Afghan Taliban Hold Talks with Iranian Official in Tehran


Members of the Taliban gather in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, April 18, 2015. Iran, according to Afghan lawmakers, is supplying sophisticated weapons to the Taliban.
Members of the Taliban gather in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, April 18, 2015. Iran, according to Afghan lawmakers, is supplying sophisticated weapons to the Taliban.

Iran says a delegation of the Taliban has discussed efforts to bring peace and end Afghanistan's 17-year war during a rare visit to Tehran.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi says the Taliban delegation arrived on Sunday and met with Iran's deputy foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi.

Ghasemi says they discussed "security issues aimed at driving the peace process in Afghanistan.'' He says the Afghan government was aware of the talks.

The talks were not the first between the Taliban and Iranian officials. Ali Shamkhani of Iran's Supreme National Security Council confirmed last week in Kabul that such talks have taken place in the past and would continue.

The Taliban have recently held talks in several regional countries amid U.S. plans to withdraw up to half the 14,000 American troops from Afghanistan.

XS
SM
MD
LG