Iran Favors Afghan Prosperity: Ayatollah Khamenei
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei reiterated Iran’s continued support for security and development of neighboring Afghanistan and called for strengthening of the bilateral ties, what he said the US is opposed to.
In a Sunday meeting with visiting Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Tehran, Ayatollah Khamenei highlighted the need for the enhancement of “cooperation and rapport” among the two neighbors.
Afghanistan is rich in the human, cultural and natural resources, the Leader underlined, noting that such capacities as well as commonalities with Iran should contribute to the expansion of mutual cooperation.
“However” Imam Khamenei added “the Americans and certain regional countries are ignorant of the Afghan capacities and do not approve of rapport and cooperation between the two countries either.”
“But Iran regards the security and progress of its neighbor Afghanistan as the security and progress of its own” the Supreme Leader described.
Ayatollah Khamenei also noted that some issues between Iran and Afghanistan, including discussions on refugees, border waters, transit and security can be all settled with “seriousness and under a timetable.”
The Afghan president, for his part, said Kabul is resolved to expand bilateral ties with Tehran.
Ghani underscored that administrations of Iran and Afghanistan have the political will to resolve the issues in connection with “terrorism, narcotics, refugees and joint border waters” under a timetable that has been drawn during his visit to Iran.
Heading a high-ranking delegation, Ghani arrived in Tehran on Sunday morning for an official visit at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart.
During a ceremony attended by both the Iranian and Afghan presidents on Sunday, the two countries signed two cooperation agreements as part of efforts to boost the relations in various areas.
