Government's Ignorance of Taliban Political Delegation's Visit to Iran

The Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that a political delegation from the Taliban of Afghanistan, led by 'Tayyib Agha', the head of the group's political office, has traveled to Tehran since Monday, May 17. Meanwhile, Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, the spokesperson for Hassan Rouhani's government, claims ignorance of this matter, stating that the news 'does not make sense.' According to Tasnim, members of this delegation have discussed regional issues, particularly 'Islamic world issues,' and matters related to Afghan migrants in Iran with Iranian security officials. Previously, Taliban political delegations have visited Iran twice to meet with Iranian security officials and participate in the International Conference of Islamic Awakening. Reports indicate that in the spring of 2013, a delegation headed by the Taliban's political office chief visited Tehran for three days. The Iranian embassy in Kabul denied the visit, but the Taliban confirmed these reports, stating that another delegation from the group attended the 'Scholars and Islamic Awakening' conference in Tehran at Iran's official invitation. In 2013, the Taliban opened its political representation in Doha, Qatar, which led to severe protests from the Afghan government due to the installation of a plaque reading 'Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan' and the raising of the Taliban flag over this office. However, in May, Afghan government officials agreed to open a political office for the Taliban. Prior to this, reports of cooperation between Iran and the Taliban had surfaced, but Iran denied these reports. For instance, the British newspaper Daily Telegraph reported in 2012 on the issuance of a permit for the establishment of a Taliban office in Zahedan and noted that 'intercepted conversations' of members of the Quds Force of Iran discussed 'sending surface-to-air missiles to Afghanistan' for the Taliban. The Iranian Foreign Ministry denied this report on Monday, August 7, 2012, stating that it only recognizes the Afghan government. During the Taliban's rule over parts of Afghanistan, Iran did not recognize this group, and on August 8, 1998, armed Taliban militants attacked the Iranian consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan, killing several diplomats and staff, including Mahmoud Saremi, a reporter for the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).