Iran continues support for Afghan peace, stability: VP

Iran will continue its support for Afghanistan’s peace, stability and calm, Iranian Vice President for Executive Affairs Mohammad Shariatmadari says.

“Peace and stability in Afghanistan will prepare the ground for more economic and technical cooperation between the two countries,” Shariatmadari, who plans to attend the inaugural ceremony of the new Afghan president, said on Sunday.

He expressed the Islamic Republic’s readiness to boost its economic activities in Afghanistan, particularly through private enterprises.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will expand its relations with the next Afghan government,” the vice president said.

During his day-long visit, Shariatmadari is scheduled to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, chief executive officer, Abdullah Abdullah, and former president, Hamid Karzai.

Ghani will be officially inaugurated on Monday after he reached a deal with his former rival, Abdullah Abdullah, following a three-month dispute over the final results of the country’s presidential election.

The Ghani administration will replace that of Karzai, who has been in power in Afghanistan since 2001.

In a statement on September 21, Iran’s Foreign Ministry welcomed signing of a power-sharing agreement by two Afghan rival presidential candidates and noted that the Islamic Republic supports a broad-based government in Afghanistan.