A Revolution That Supported the Revolution!

The Iranian Revolution overthrew the Pahlavi monarchy, which was heavily dependent on Western powers, especially the United States, and replaced it with the Islamic Republic. This development was the first successful example of establishing an Islamic government in modern times.

This revolution freed Iran from Western political and economic domination and established it as an independent country on the international stage.

The revolution of the Islamic Republic of Iran led the country to support the righteous jihad of the Afghan people during the Soviet invasion (1979-1989) and to play an important role in supporting the Afghan mujahideen. Iran not only supported the Afghan mujahideen in the political and diplomatic arena, but also hosted millions of Afghan refugees who were forced to leave their country due to the war and Soviet occupation.

By providing shelter and social services to Afghan refugees, Iran made a great contribution to reducing their problems. Many Afghan refugees in Iran were able to work and organize their lives. The Afghan nation always remembers this support and sacrifices of the Islamic Republic of Iran and is grateful for the assistance it received during the most difficult period in its history.

Despite Iran’s support for the jihad of the Afghan people, during the First Islamic Emirate (1996-2001), relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan were fraught with tensions and misunderstandings. There were some political and ideological differences between the two sides, which caused Iran to adopt positions that were partly in line with Western policies at the beginning of the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

However, after a while, the Islamic Republic of Iran supported the Afghan people's jihad against the US occupation and, during the 20-year occupation, adjusted its policies in line with its interests and the developments in Afghanistan. After the US withdrawal and the Islamic Emirate's return to power in 2021, Iran began diplomatic relations with the new Afghan government.

Today, relations between Iran and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan have reached a desirable level, and political, economic, and security cooperation between the two countries is expanding. We hope that the leaders and founders of the Islamic Republic will continue their supportive policies and support the Afghans living in that country and provide them with better living conditions.

Given that Iran has so far had constructive interactions with the Islamic Emirate and has kept its embassy in Kabul active, it is hoped that this country will be a pioneer in recognizing the Islamic Emirate and thereby pave the way for other countries.

 

*Rahmatullah Faizan, Deputy Representative of the Islamic Emirate's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Herat Province