TEHRAN — The fourth Tehran Dialogue Forum opened Sunday with delegates from 53 countries in attendance, including Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister of the Taliban. The multilateral gathering, hosted by Iran, is aimed at fostering regional cooperation on a range of political and security issues — with Afghanistan high on the agenda.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters ahead of the summit that developments in Afghanistan would be a central focus of this year’s talks. He described Muttaqi’s participation as significant, saying the country’s evolving situation remains a matter of regional concern.
“Afghanistan will be one of the key issues discussed during the forum,” Khatibzadeh said, adding that the presence of Taliban representatives reflects the complexity of regional engagement with the country under Taliban rule.
According to a statement from the Taliban’s foreign ministry, Muttaqi met on the sidelines of the forum with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi. The two reportedly discussed border security, water-sharing disputes, and the status of Afghan refugees in Iran.
The high-profile meeting drew attention for its diplomatic choreography: official photographs showed both ministers seated before the Iranian flag, with no Taliban flag displayed — a symbolic omission that did not go unnoticed in regional media.
Tehran’s approach to the Taliban has been cautious but pragmatic. While Iranian officials have hosted Taliban leaders in recent years and handed over Afghanistan’s embassy in Tehran to Taliban representatives, the government has not formally recognized the group. At the same time, Iran has continued to welcome high-profile Taliban opposition figures, including Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf, Mohammad Mohaqiq, and Ahmad Massoud — all of whom have visited Iran in the past year.
“In the nearly four years since the Taliban returned to power, Iran has maintained a working relationship with the group,” said Nasrullah Stanekzai, a political analyst and university professor. “But it has also kept lines open with opposition leaders — likely as part of a broader strategy to hedge against instability and the potential return of U.S. influence in Afghanistan.”
Analysts say Tehran’s policy reflects a shifting regional calculus, driven by both security concerns and political uncertainty in post-U.S. Afghanistan. Iran appears to be weighing options for internal leverage, balancing engagement with the Taliban against support for its political rivals, depending on how regional dynamics unfold.
