Iran's Stance on Afghanistan: A Call for Afghan-Led Solution

Iranian Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani emphasized at the UN Security Council briefing on "Situation in Afghanistan" that the future of the country must be determined by the Afghans themselves, with any outside-imposed solution being neither sustainable nor acceptable. Iran has been actively engaged with Afghanistan's de facto authorities through bilateral and regional initiatives, while also hosting millions of Afghan refugees and providing humanitarian assistance.

Key Takeaways:

• The Islamic Republic of Iran expresses its profound sympathy and solidarity with the people and authorities of Afghanistan following the recent devastating earthquake, which tragically claimed numerous lives.
• Iran has promptly extended humanitarian assistance to support the affected population and stands ready to continue assisting Afghanistan in overcoming the consequences of this tragedy.
• Afghanistan's future must be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned, with a lasting solution emerging through an inclusive political process that respects the country's sovereignty and guarantees the rights of all Afghans, particularly women and girls.
• The de facto authorities in Afghanistan are a reality on the ground, and the international community has no choice but to engage with them constructively and practically to address the ongoing humanitarian and economic crises.
• Humanitarian assistance must never be politicized, and sanctions should not be used as political leverage to obstruct economic stabilization or engagement with the de facto authorities.
• Afghan assets frozen abroad should be released unconditionally to serve the people, and the travel ban exemption mechanism for designated Taliban individuals should be fully restored to foster dialogue and advance a comprehensive, constructive approach to the situation in Afghanistan.

Statistics:

• Afghanistan's earthquake on September 2025 claimed numerous lives, with Iran providing humanitarian assistance.
• Iran has hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades, often with insufficient international support, placing severe strain on resources and infrastructure.
• The travel ban exemption mechanism for designated Taliban individuals has been politicized or exploited for narrow political interests by Council members.
• Afghanistan's future must be Afghan-led, with an inclusive political process that respects the country's sovereignty and guarantees the rights of all Afghans, particularly women and girls.

Sources:

• Iranian News Agency (IRNA)
• Statement by H.E. Mr. Amir Saeid Iravani Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Before UN Security Council Briefing on "Situation in Afghanistan" New York, 17 September 2025
• Secretary-General's latest report (S/2025/554)