Iranian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Majid Takht-e Ravanchi rejected the US allegations against Tehran for what it called as fomenting insecurity in Afghanistan, lashing out at Washington for projecting the blame on others to cover failures. RNA - The United States is misleading the world public opinion by unfounded allegations against Iran to cover up its failed policy on Afghanistan for the last 18 years, Takht-e Ravanchi said, addressing a UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan on Wednesday.
“The sole purpose of this unfounded claim is to cover the United States’ failed policy in Afghanistan for the last 18 years,” he said, adding that Iran has always stood firm in support of peace on its neighbors' soil.
The Iranian envoy said the people of Afghanistan are tired of years of invasion, occupation and foreign military presence, as well as the vicious cycle of terror, insecurity and instability.
The call for peace has never been as loud and strong as it is today, Takht-e Ravanchi said, emphasizing that those demands must be realized.
He noted that to be durable, peace must be established by and for Afghans, and their needs can neither be dictated to them nor ignored.
Takht-e Ravanchi said that regional and international partners, therefore, can only support Afghanistan’s aspirations for peace.
He welcomed convening of the Consultative Peace Loya Jirga, and said that it is unfortunate that the United States – instead of acknowledging the role played by Iran – continues to accuse his country of fomenting insecurity in Afghanistan.
Preserving and strengthening Afghanistan’s defense and security forces are crucial and the time-bound and responsible withdrawal of all foreign forces is pursued, he said, noting that particular attention should be paid to the dangerous activities of terrorist groups, including the ISIL.
In relevant remarks on Tuesday, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani underlined the need for continued peace talks with the Taliban in coordination with the Afghan government to prevent meddling of trans-regional states.
"We should be watchful to run coordination among us for talks with the Taliban and coordinate with the Afghan government," Shamkhani said in a joint meeting with the high-ranking security officials of Russia, China, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan on the sidelines of the 10th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues in the Russian city of Ufa.
He also presented Iran's proposals on the level, time, agenda and mechanisms for the effective activities of Afghanistan's neighbors in the process of national reconciliation in the country.
"It is necessary for Afghanistan's neighbors to increase contacts and relations with Afghan dissidents in coordination with the legal government in Afghanistan to narrow down the possibility for interference by the transregional states in the country's crisis," Shamkhani said.
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