Hamid Karzai, the interim leader of Afghanistan, today addressed the predominantly reformist representatives of the Iranian Parliament, stating that Iran and Afghanistan, as neighboring countries, must cooperate to maintain peace in the region. During his second day of a three-day visit to Tehran, Mr. Karzai praised Iran for its support of Afghanistan during its long struggle against the former Soviet occupation and stated that due to the shared culture and language, the ties between Iran and Afghanistan are eternal. Mr. Karzai, who is visiting Iran for the first time since taking leadership of the interim Afghan government, received a warm welcome in Tehran. Iran and the United States have differing views on Tehran's role in Afghanistan. Washington accuses Iran of supporting warlords opposing the interim Afghan government and harboring fleeing Al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters. However, Iran strongly denies these allegations, asserting its full support for Mr. Karzai's government and his efforts to halt the conflict among various Afghan factions. Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, following his meeting with Mr. Karzai yesterday, told reporters that Iran will never work to destabilize Afghanistan. He stated that having a modern and secure neighbor is in Iran's interest. Iran has committed to providing over $500 million for the reconstruction of Afghanistan. Mr. Karzai expressed gratitude to both Iran and the United States for ousting the Taliban from Afghanistan and urged the two countries to set aside their differences and collaborate on Afghanistan's reconstruction.
Hamid Karzai's Speech in the Iranian Parliament - 2002-02-25
Hamid Karzai addressed the Iranian Parliament, emphasizing the need for cooperation between Iran and Afghanistan for regional peace. He praised Iran's historical support and called for collaboration between Iran and the U.S. for Afghanistan's reconstruction. This visit highlights the complex dynamics between these nations post-Taliban.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Hamid Karzai addressed the Iranian Parliament, calling for cooperation between Iran and Afghanistan for regional peace and expressing gratitude for Iran's support. He also urged collaboration between Iran and the U.S. for Afghanistan's reconstruction.
- Karzai praised Iran's historical support during Afghanistan's struggle against the Soviet occupation.
- Iran committed over $500 million for Afghanistan's reconstruction.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Following the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, the interim government led by Karzai sought international support for reconstruction, while Iran aimed to assert its influence in a neighboring country.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%