The Taliban’s Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, and his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, met in Tehran on Saturday to discuss security co-operation, water-resource management, migration and broader bilateral ties.

According to a statement from the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both sides emphasised the need to strengthen diplomatic relations. Muttaqi welcomed Iran’s generosity in hosting Afghan migrants and called for their gradual, dignified repatriation to Afghanistan.

He further urged Iranian authorities to prioritise the transfer of Afghan prisoners from Iran and to ensure they receive appropriate support and facilities.

Araghchi described relations between Iran and the Taliban as “expanding” and said both parties were moving step by step into a new phase of co-operation. He highlighted recent advances in trade and transit links and reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to extending additional support and facilities to Afghan migrants. He also underscored that any return of migrants should preserve their human dignity at every stage.

Muttaqi travelled to Tehran to attend the 14th Tehran Dialogue Forum. In recent months, ties between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Taliban have deepened across security and economic spheres, with Iran recognised as the Taliban’s leading economic partner; bilateral trade is estimated at around US$4 billion.

On a prior visit to Kabul, Araghchi announced the opening of a “new chapter” in relations, holding detailed discussions with Taliban security officials on intelligence-sharing to counter shared threats.

Iran remains particularly concerned about the activities of ISIS and Jaish al-Adl along its eastern border and the illicit trade in Afghan narcotics. While Iranian officials report a decline in opiate cultivation and production in Afghanistan, they warn that synthetic drugs continue to circulate widely.