Iran FM: Economic Progress Key to Countering Extremism
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s foreign minister underscored that economic development, particularly across the border areas between Iran and Afghanistan, is a significant factor in the fight against extremism.
“Economic development plays a leading role in security and stability and countering extremism in the region,” Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a meeting with Abdolrahim Nikpour, Afghanistan’s new consular general to Iran’s southeastern city of Zahedan.
During the meeting which was held in Tehran on Saturday, Zarif also noted that improvement of the quality and quantity of infrastructures in Iran’s southeastern areas, such as an increase in the transportation routes, will positively affect development of both the Iranian province of Sistan and Balouchestan and its adjacent countries, including Afghanistan.
The Afghan diplomat, for his part, pledged efforts to strengthen ties between the two Muslim nations and enhance their trade ties during his tenure.
The two neighboring countries have long had close diplomatic ties as well as cultural and lingual commonalities. In addition, Afghanistan represents a significant export market for Iranian products.
Iran has for decades hosted millions of refugees from Afghanistan, though it has received little international support.
