Taliban officials said Saturday that a delegation met with Iranian counterparts at the Milak border crossing in Nimroz province to discuss border cooperation and transit.

According to the Taliban governor’s office in Nimroz, the two sides agreed to allow fuel tankers to cross in both directions and to keep the border crossing open for transit traffic. Topics including trade, transit, visas for Afghan travellers and measures to curb smuggling were also discussed.

The Iranian Embassy in Kabul earlier said Alireza Bikdeli, Tehran’s chargé d’affaires in Kabul, met with Noorullah Noori, the Taliban’s minister for borders, ethnicities and tribes, to discuss “border cooperation.” The Taliban ministry later said the talks also addressed “mutual trust.”

In a statement, the ministry said Bikdeli signalled Iran’s interest in expanding political ties with the Taliban. “The government of Iran respects all neighbouring countries, especially Afghanistan, and seeks to further strengthen its political, economic and friendly relations with Afghanistan,” he was quoted as saying.

Bikdeli also pledged “continued cooperation” with the Taliban, according to the statement.