Iran’s position on Afghan settlement

Abstract

The article notes the relevance of the problem of the Afghan settlement for Iran in the light of the radical changes that have occurred in Afghanistan after the rapid escape of the United States and its allies from Afghanistan and the rapid seizure of power in Kabul by the Taliban. The main factors, that force Iran to pay serious attention to solving the crisis in Afghanistan, are considered. The long land border with Afghanistan makes it difficult to control the situation at the border and illegal migration. Due to the ongoing anti-Iranian sanctions of the West and the lack of progress in negotiations on the revival of the JCPOA, Iran has to pay more attention to the development of cooperation with neighboring countries, including Afghanistan, which is one of Iran's main economic regional partners. Iran wants to play a leading role in the Afghan settlement process. Tehran is actively participating in the work of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other international organizations to resolve the Afghan crisis. Iran proposed to the UN to hold an international donor conference on Afghanistan and also to increase financial assistance to Iran to compensate costs connected with the accommodation of Afghan refugees. For this purpose, Iran also maintains regular bilateral contacts with all neighboring countries. Iran, on the one hand, seeks to prevent a new wave of Afghan refugees, smuggling of drugs and weapons into its country, and, on the other hand, intends to resume and expand economic cooperation with Afghanistan.