Iran said Taliban representatives from Afghanistan negotiated with Iranian officials in Tehran on December 30, as the Islamic Republic of Iran seeks to advance peace talks in the neighboring country to curb the influence of other Islamist groups.
The talks were held with the knowledge of Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani and were intended to set parameters for negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said on December 31, according to Western media outlets.
“A Taliban delegation was in Tehran yesterday (December 30). They had comprehensive negotiations with the Iranian deputy foreign minister,” Bahram Ghasemi said in a news conference broadcast live on Iranian national television, according to Reuters. .
The New York Times reports that Ghasemi said the Taliban delegation met with Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi.
They reportedly discussed “security issues aimed at driving the peace process in Afghanistan.” He says the Afghan government was aware of the talks.
The talks were not the first between the Taliban and Iranian officials. Ali Shamkhani of Iran's Supreme National Security Council reportedly confirmed on December 28 in Kabul that such talks have taken place in the past and would continue.
