TEHRAN — Iran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on Monday that Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf, a prominent Afghan political and religious figure, has traveled to the country for medical treatment.
In a press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei Hamaneh responded to questions about Sayyaf’s visit, stating, “Afghanistan is a diverse society with various political figures and parties. The travel of an Afghan personality to Iran is not unusual.” He added that Afghan citizens frequently visit Iran, emphasizing that such trips should not be seen as particularly significant.
Without explicitly naming Sayyaf, Baghaei Hamaneh noted, “As far as I know, the individual in question has come to Iran for medical purposes.”
Earlier, some media reports suggested that Sayyaf had traveled to Iran at the invitation of Iranian officials and had met with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Sayyaf, a former jihadist leader and a strong critic of the Taliban, has consistently voiced opposition to the group’s policies. Reports indicate that during his visit, he discussed the situation in Afghanistan and potential solutions to the ongoing crisis with Iranian officials, as well as meeting with Afghan political factions residing in Iran.
