Iran Declares No One, Including Taliban Leaders, Safe from Terrorism

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations Security Council, has warned that ISIS is actively seeking to destabilise Afghanistan and the wider region.

Referring to the assassination of the Taliban’s Minister of Refugees in an explosion on Wednesday (December 11), the ambassador emphasised that no one, including Taliban leaders, is immune to the threat of terrorism.

Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s representative at the United Nations, addressed the Security Council on Thursday, expressing deep concerns over Afghanistan’s deteriorating security situation.

Highlighting the recent attack, which claimed the life of the Taliban’s Minister of Refugees, Iravani urged the Taliban leadership to honour their commitments and to engage in a “comprehensive fight against terrorist networks”.

He also drew attention to the systematic violence targeting Afghanistan’s Hazara community, describing these attacks as acts of extremist brutality.

Addressing the severe humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, Iravani called upon the international community to respond with impartiality, without imposing conditions, and free from political motivations.

On the issue of Afghan refugees, Iravani stated that Iran hosts approximately six million Afghan refugees, incurring an annual expenditure of $10 billion to provide for their needs.

The ambassador criticised what he termed the “inadequate” support from the international community in addressing refugee needs. He underscored the necessity for sustained international assistance to countries like Iran and Pakistan, which bear a significant burden in hosting Afghan refugees.