Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy chief minister for economic affairs, met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran on Friday, according to Baradar’s office.
The office said Baradar offered condolences to the Iranian government and people over the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s former supreme leader, and discussed bilateral relations with Pezeshkian.
According to the Taliban statement, Baradar said Afghanistan and Iran shared ties and common interests in several areas. He also reiterated the Taliban’s opposition to US and Israeli attacks on Iran, saying their position had been “clear and consistent” and that it had condemned the strikes as illegitimate.
Pezeshkian, according to the Taliban account of the meeting, emphasized close ties between the peoples of Afghanistan and Iran and said the two countries should make use of existing opportunities to advance their mutual interests.
Baradar traveled to Iran as part of a Taliban delegation that also includes their foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. The delegation is attending the funeral and burial ceremonies for Khamenei.
The visit comes as the Taliban seek to deepen ties with Tehran. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have expanded political and economic engagement with Iran through high-level visits and cooperation on trade, transit, migration and border security.
Relations have also faced periodic tensions, particularly over water rights, the treatment and deportation of Afghan migrants and occasional clashes along the border. Still, Iran has maintained regular diplomatic engagement with the Taliban despite not formally recognizing their rule.
Khamenei was killed nearly four months ago in US and Israeli strikes on his office. Several anti-Taliban political figures are also attending the funeral ceremonies.
