Iran to decide on Dealings With Taliban Based on Group’s Deeds

Tehran will decide on the Taliban’s invitation to attend the inauguration of the new Afghan government based on the group’s actions, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
“It is still early to talk about this issue,” Saeed Khatibzadeh said when asked to comment on the Taliban’s invitation for Iran to attend the new government’s inauguration, and on the possibility of recognizing the Taliban.
“We should wait and see the formation of the future government of Afghanistan and then decide on other issues. We will decide on their request and invitation based on the Taliban’s actions,” Khatibzadeh responded, IRNA reported. 
He stressed that the interim government announced by the Taliban last week is not what Iran and the international community would expect, renewing Tehran’s demand for an “inclusive government.”  
The announcement sparked worldwide criticism over the lack of diversity, while the Taliban had pledged to include all groups in the new government. 
The Taliban’s main rival in the war-ravaged country, the National Resistance Front, has rejected the interim government as “illegitimate” and called for nationwide protests.
Last week, Khatibzadeh condemned the Taliban’s attacks against the Panjshir Valley, where anti-Taliban groups, including the NRF, are based, urging the militant group to live up to its commitments.
Iran’s permanent representative to the UN, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, also censured the attacks as an “unjustifiable and condemnable fratricide” that runs counter to the united position of the international community.
Khatibzadeh also said Iran has emphasized that any action resulting in “fratricide” is not the right path.
“War and violence are not a solution, and no one can replace dialogue with war and violence,” he stated. “We have firmly said that an inclusive government can bring peace and stability. No minority government can bring maximum peace, stability and calm in the long run.”
In similar remarks on Saturday, the head of the Iran-Afghanistan Parliamentary Friendship Group said the political future of any government in Afghanistan hinges on incorporating all Afghan groups.
“One of the main problems of Afghanistan is that every government formed there has not been inclusive,” Ali Jeddi told ICANA.
The lawmaker also maintained that the Taliban’s interim government is not inclusive, predicting that the militant group will face problems if it resists demands for the formation of an all-inclusive government.