KABUL — Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s acting foreign minister, traveled to Iran on Saturday to participate in the “Tehran Forum,” according to a statement issued by the Taliban-run Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The delegation, which includes Abdul Latif Nazari, the Taliban’s deputy minister of economy, traveled at the invitation of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the ministry said. Muttaqi is expected to meet with senior Iranian officials to discuss bilateral relations during the visit.
The Tehran Forum is being held as regional powers continue diplomatic engagement with the Taliban despite ongoing international sanctions and questions over the group’s legitimacy.
Muttaqi remains on the United Nations Security Council’s sanctions list, which restricts international travel for designated individuals. Under U.N. rules, member states are not permitted to issue visas or host sanctioned individuals without explicit authorization from the Council’s sanctions committee.
Earlier this month, the U.N. granted a temporary travel exemption for five Taliban officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar, to attend the Kazan Forum in Russia between May 12 and 19. However, the Council has not publicly announced any exemption for Muttaqi’s trip to Tehran.
Taliban officials have said that Muttaqi also plans to travel to China later this week, though no details have been released regarding formal clearance for that visit.
