Iran slammed the recent anti-Iran demonstrations in Kabul and called on Afghan authorities to identify and arrest the perpetrators of these protests.
The Islamic Republic News Agency described the protesters in Afghanistan “mercenary Western elements” today and accused Afghan media of “Western bias.”
Fadahossein Maleki, Iranian ambassador to Afghanistan, announced that if these individuals are not held accountable, “the Islamic Republic is likely to reconsider its decisions regarding the transit of fuel trucks and other issues.”
Tens of protesters in Kabul gathered in front of Iranian embassy yesterday to demonstrate for the fourth time in the past two weeks against Iran’s blocking of transiting fuel trucks heading for Afghanistan.
The protesters chanted anti-Islamic Republic slogans, burned pictures of Iranian supreme leader and president, and pelted the embassy building with rocks and eggs.
In the past two months, concerned that the fuel was headed for NATO forces, Iran had blocked the passage of 1900 trucks heading from Turkmenistan and Iraq to Afghanistan.
NATO and Afghan authorities denied Iranian allegations and Afghan government has confirmed the fuel is for civilian use.
Three days ago Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry warned Iran that if the blockade is not removed within a week, they will boycott all relations with and investments in Iran.
Ramin Mehmanparast, Iran’s spokesman for the foreign ministry on the other hand announced two days ago that the matter had been resolved after talks between representatives of the two countries and the trucks had actually left for Afghanistan the week before.
Mehmanparast claimed that a certain group in Afghanistan is trying to strain Iran-Afghan relations
