Iran Says It Will Not Follow Russia in Recognizing the Taliban

Kokcha News Agency – Iran’s Foreign Ministry has clarified that it will not follow Russia’s lead in recognizing the Taliban government in Afghanistan. Speaking at a weekly press briefing on Monday, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said, “The decision to recognize other countries and governments is an independent decision for each country, and we will make our decision based on our own interests and considerations.”

Baghaei was responding to questions about Russia’s decision last month to formally recognize the Taliban regime, as well as the possibility of coordination between Tehran and Islamabad on the issue, given Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s recent visit to Pakistan.

Iran-Pakistan Coordination on Afghanistan:
Baghaei noted that it is “completely natural” for neighboring countries like Iran and Pakistan, which share a border with Afghanistan and face common security challenges, to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. He added that both Iran and Pakistan host a large number of Afghan refugees and share cultural and historical ties with Afghanistan.

The spokesperson emphasized that Afghanistan has always been a key topic of discussion in meetings between Iranian and Pakistani officials, with both sides exchanging views on ways to promote stability and prosperity in the war-torn country.

Global Recognition of the Taliban:
So far, no neighboring country of Afghanistan has recognized the Taliban government. Globally, Russia is the only country to have formally recognized the Taliban regime, a move that has drawn significant attention and criticism.