UN Chief, FM Confer on Afghanistan, JCPOA

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian held a phone conversation on Monday, in which they discussed the latest developments in Afghanistan and the future of the Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. 
Iran’s top diplomat called on the world body to take serious measures to counter terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, IRNA reported. 
Amir-Abdollahian denounced the recent terrorist attacks carried out by the self-styled Islamic State militant group in Afghanistan and expressed concern over the grave situation in the South Asian country.
He said the terrorist activities and the targeting of worshipers, along with the new wave of Afghan refugees, have added to the responsibility of the United Nations and its chief in this regard.
The Iranian foreign minister called for serious action by the UN to tackle terrorism in Afghanistan.
He pointed to a planned regional conference on Afghanistan in Tehran and stated that the conference is set to be attended by the foreign ministers of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries next week.
Amir-Abdollahian also referred to the nuclear negotiations and said the recent talks between the Iranian deputy foreign minister and European Union political director Enrique Mora were “positive” and that the two sides will continue their negotiations in Brussels in the coming days.
He noted that Iran supports negotiations that have “tangible” and “practical” results, “and if parties to the JCPOA fully live up to their obligations, Iran will return to fulfilling its commitments too.”
Guterres said the United Nations will continue to send humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and emphasizes the need for the formation of an inclusive government that represents all Afghan ethnic groups and minorities.
Expressing hope for the success of the Iran nuclear talks, Guterres said the UN has always supported the upholding of the JCPOA. 

Talks With OIC  

In a separate phone call with Organization of Islamic Cooperation Secretary-General Yousef al-Othaimeen on Monday, Amir-Abdollahian said extremist groups are among the most important challenges facing the region.  
The foreign minister said the IS attacks in Afghanistan are aimed at sowing religious discord in the crisis-hit country, urging the OIC to denounce such attacks.
Pointing to the acts of terrorism by IS in Afghanistan, he expressed Tehran’s support for a more active role by the OIC in dealing with the ongoing problems in the war-ravaged country.
He emphasized that the OIC chief and its members should condemn IS inhumane measures, including the terror group’s recent “terrorist and criminal” attacks at two mosques in the Afghan cities of Kunduz and Kandahar.
More than 60 people were killed in three back-to-back explosions that hit the Bibi Fatima mosque during Friday prayers, one of the biggest blasts in Kandahar. It came just a week after a bomb attack killed more than 150 people and left scores of others injured at a Shia mosque in the northeastern city of Kunduz.
Both tragedies were claimed by a local affiliate of the IS terrorist group, which has a long history of attacking Afghanistan’s Shia minority. 
The Iranian foreign minister also commended efforts by the OIC Secretariat to help facilitate the reopening of the Islamic Republic’s mission to the organization in the Saudi port city of Jeddah.
Othaimeen outlined the OIC measures to resolve problems in Afghanistan and said the country should not turn into “a safe haven” for terrorist groups.
He stressed the importance of forming an inclusive government in Afghanistan, observing human rights, particularly rights of women, and showing solidarity with the Afghan people.
He emphasized that the OIC does not discriminate between followers of Islam and believes that all Muslims enjoy equal human rights.
Muslims and worshippers of any religion should not be targeted by terrorist attacks, the OIC secretary-general said.  
Pointing to recent talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Othaimeen expressed hope that “such negotiations and contacts would continue and result in positive outcomes for both countries.”
Iraq has hosted several rounds of direct talks between Iranian and Saudi delegations since April with the aim of resurrecting relations severed five years ago over a host of issues.
The negotiations were launched under Iran’s former president Hassan Rouhani, and continued with renewed vigor by the new administration headed by Ebrahim Raeisi.