Iran-Afghanistan Relations - February 19, 2002

Kamal Kharrazi, Iran's Foreign Minister, stated that among the 100 individuals recently arrested at the Iran-Afghanistan-Pakistan border, none are affiliated with Al-Qaeda. He mentioned that the detainees are Europeans, Arabs, and some from North Africa. Kharrazi did not specify why these individuals wanted to enter Iran. He noted that the Tehran government has contacted the embassies of the detainees' countries to arrange for their return. The U.S. government has accused Iran of harboring some members of the ousted Taliban regime and Al-Qaeda. Additionally, Iran has rejected U.S. allegations that it is attempting to disrupt the interim Afghan government. Kharrazi stated that Afghan President Hamid Karzai's visit to Tehran next week is evidence of Iran's support for the interim Afghan government. Meanwhile, the Iranian state news agency reported that Iran has established a special office in Tehran to coordinate its contributions to the reconstruction of Afghanistan with others. Kharrazi claimed that since the September 11 terrorist attacks, Washington has been trying to create a global dictatorship. He again dismissed President Bush's remark that Iran is one of the three countries in the 'Axis of Evil.'