Iranian President Emphasizes Brotherly Ties with Neighbors Including Afghanistan

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated at the Global Conference on Investment Opportunities in Railway and Road Corridors that Tehran views its neighbors, including Afghanistan, as brothers and friends. He added that Iran will strengthen these brotherly ties, describing the routes connecting these countries as paths to peace, development, and knowledge.

Pezeshkian said: "We look at neighboring countries with a fraternal, friendly, and kinship perspective. We have deep historical and cultural ties of a thousand years with Azerbaijan, Iraq, Kurdistan, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan, and we consider ourselves rooted with them."

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, told an Iranian media outlet that Kabul does not seek war and noted that Iran has previously demonstrated its capabilities. Mujahid added that in the event of war and upon an official request, Afghanistan is prepared to offer "cooperation and sympathy" to Iran in addressing conflict issues, while expressing hope that war does not occur.

He stated: "First, we are not in favor of war happening; second, previously when Iran was attacked, Iran won and will win again because Iran has capability and is on the right side. Moreover, if war happens, if any help is requested from us, we are ready to sympathize and cooperate with Iran in solving war and conflict problems. But we hope war does not happen."

Political analyst Mohammad Aslam Daneshmal commented that Iran seeks to improve relations with neighbors to mitigate its challenges.

This comes as Alireza Bikdeli, chargé d'affaires at the Iranian embassy in Kabul, previously told ToloNews that no obstacles exist to recognizing the Islamic Emirate and that Iran will formally recognize it soon to bolster multifaceted ties. Bikdeli said they are pursuing such connections and will announce the legal recognition decision at the appropriate time.