Iran's ambassador to Afghanistan believes that the Taliban group is a disaster for Afghanistan, the region and the world, but Iran has no choice but to use this opportunity “to civilize them.”
The comments by Bahador Aminian were published after the hacktivist group Black Reward got access to IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency database last month.
However, Iran’s embassy in Kabul denied the statements and described it as a conspiracy to create crisis in the region.
After explaining the nature of the Taliban as well as the problems the Islamic Republic has with the group, the Iranian ambassador is quoted as saying, “We have no choice but to side with the Taliban and make use of them.”
He believes that the Taliban, despite having fought against the United States for two decades, are not anti-American, and if the Islamic Republic is slow to move, “the Americans can easily seize them.”
In another part of the file, Aminian says he is worried that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has the fewest followers in Afghanistan and “most of the Shias in Afghanistan are followers of Ayatollah Sistani and others.”
Aminian also talks about the water dispute between Tehran and Kabul, saying that the Taliban have said, “We must not give even a drop of water to Iran”.
Iran has been accusing Afghanistan of holding the water from the Hirmand River by constructing a series of dams.
He also states that generally Iranians’ view of Afghans is a racist and humiliating one.
In a press release December 2, the council said the ‘Iran Strategy Project’ reflected “the unprecedented level of discord and uncertainty in Iran” and was “driven by recent events,” including the “women-led Iranian social movement demanding freedom and autonomy, the near-term potential for a new Supreme Leader, Iran’s evolving role in the region…and the likely end of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).”
The council described the JCPOA – the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which the US left in 2018 – as “the prism through which US and European policy toward Iran has been based for much of the past decade.”
Founded in 1961, the Atlantic Council stands broadly for a close relationship with Europe and a philosophy of ‘Atlanticism.’ This put it at odds with former president Donald Trump, who ignored European objections in withdrawing the US from the JCPOA and unleashing ‘maximum pressure’ sanctions against Iran. Former journalist Barbara Slavin, who led the Atlantic Council’s work on Iran and will shortly leave, was a prominent advocate of the JCPOA.
While President Joe Biden came to office in 2021 committed to reviving the JCPOA, 18-months of multilateral and bilateral talks saw Washington and Tehran failing to agree how to restore the 2015 agreement, leaving draconian sanctions in place and the Iranian nuclear program expanding. Recent protests in Iran, and Tehran’s military cooperation with Russia, have emboldened enthusiasts of ‘maximum pressure’ and put JCPOA supporters on the back foot.
The ‘Iran Strategy Project’ will be led by Jonathan Panikoff, a former US intelligence officer, with an advisory board including General Frank McKenzie, former US commander in the Middle East, Michael Morell, former deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and Stuart Levey, a banker who as US Treasury undersecretary 2004-11 was a major architect of the current sanctions regime.
Taking a ‘holistic look’
Also on the board will be Sanam Vakil of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House, London, Rob Macaire, British ambassador to Iran 2018-21, Ladan Boroumand, founder of the Washington-based Boroumand Centre, and Marjan Keypour, director of the Alliance for Rights of Minorities and active supporter of Israel.
Panikoff said the project would take “a holistic look” at all issues relating to Iran – “political, human rights, security, economic, nuclear, social, and natural resources” – and that it would offer a “forum for experts across the political spectrum, and with varying functional expertise, to discuss and debate the future of Iran, and to provide concrete strategic options for policymakers.”
The choice of advisory board suggests the Iran Strategy Project will look to balance an appraisal of US security interests with wider concerns. Its work is likely to be relatively dispassionate, even if this is hard given the passionate nature of debates over Iran. The Atlantic Council has substantial funding, including from the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Saudi-Lebanese billionaire Bahaa Hariri, the Rockerfeller Foundation, and Facebook.
