Taliban and IRGC Seek Political Gain from UK’s List of 25,000 Afghan Allies

Kokcha News Agency – According to The Telegraph, citing a senior Iranian official, four IRGC officials traveled to Kabul last week to obtain a list of Afghan allies of the UK from the Taliban. The IRGC aims to use this list as leverage in nuclear negotiations with the West. In return, the Taliban has conditioned the handover of the list on Iran’s formal recognition of their regime.

Sources indicate that this visit was conducted without the knowledge of the Iranian government and was allegedly aimed at identifying and detaining “suspected British spies.” The IRGC has also promised the Taliban to expedite efforts for their recognition in Tehran.

The list contains the names of over 25,000 Afghans, including soldiers who collaborated with the British military, which was accidentally leaked in 2022. Some of these individuals have fled to Iran to escape the Taliban. Reports suggest that Iranian border forces have recently arrested several people named on the list.

These developments coincide with pressure from European powers on Iran to resume nuclear deal negotiations by the end of August 2025; otherwise, automatic sanctions will be reinstated. An Iranian official stated that the IRGC is seeking to create bargaining tools ahead of this deadline, although the central government is largely unaware of their actions.

The Telegraph notes that the recent cooperation between the Taliban and the IRGC marks a significant shift in regional dynamics. Iran is seeking new intelligence sources and diplomatic tools, while the Taliban hopes to gain international recognition—a goal that has so far only been achieved by Russia.