Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif underlined the need for unity among various Afghan political groups to ensure peace and stability in the war-torn country.
He made the statement in a phone conversation with Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar on Sunday.
Zarif also expressed Iran’s willingness to expand relations between the two neighbors and promote mutual cooperation to control the new coronavirus pandemic, IRNA reported.
Afghanistan has been facing a political crisis since last fall’s disputed presidential election. Both Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, the previous incumbent, and his rival Abdullah Abdullah claim to have won the election. They have held their own ceremonies and formed parallel governments.
United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also failed to mediate between the two to create an inclusive government during a visit to Kabul in mid-March.
Ghani and Abdullah had a similar dispute in 2014, but agreed on a power-sharing deal and formed a National Unity government.
The current conflict has delayed the US-brokered peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban insurgents ousted by the US in 2001.
Ghani’s government announced a 21-member team to negotiate with the Taliban, but the militants refused to initiate the talks, arguing that it was not take into account all parties.
“In order to reach true and lasting peace, the aforementioned team must be agreed upon by all effective Afghan sides so that it can represent all sides,” Taliban Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said, according to Reuters.
Zarif earlier held separate phone conversations with Ghani and Abdullah on a range of subjects, including the post-election differences and intra-Afghan peace talks.
He underscored the centrality of political structures that are based on Afghanistan’s Constitution in the country’s peace and national reconciliation process.
The foreign minister expressed Iran’s support for a peace plan that involves all Afghan political factions and is based on the country’s Constitution.
