Iran on Thursday renewed calls for accountability on the 27th anniversary of the deadly attack on its consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif during the first Taliban regime, describing the incident as a “terrorist crime” and urging the identification and prosecution of those responsible.
In a statement issued by Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tehran emphasized the need for a full investigation and “concrete actions to deliver justice.” The ministry said it continues to pursue the matter seriously.
The attack occurred in 1998, when the Taliban first seized control of Mazar-i-Sharif during their first rule over Afghanistan. Armed militants stormed the Iranian consulate, killing nine Iranian diplomats and a journalist.
Those killed included Nasser Rigi, Noorollah Noorzi, Karim Heydarian, Rashid Paryav Fallah, Heydar Ali Bagheri, Mohammad Ali Qiasi, Majid Noori Niyarki, Mohammad Naser Naseri, and journalist Mahmoud Saremi.
Taliban never claimed responsibility for the attack and have remained silent on the identity of the perpetrators.
At the time, the United Nations Security Council condemned the killings. In Resolution 1267, it called the incident a “flagrant violation” of international law.
In its anniversary statement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry described the assault as “a terrorist aggression and one of the most heinous examples of gross violations of international law in the domain of diplomatic relations.”
Despite the history, Iran has maintained ties with the Taliban since their return to power in 2021. Senior Iranian officials, including the foreign minister, have made several visits to Kabul, while Taliban delegations have also traveled to Tehran for diplomatic talks.
