TEHERAN (AFP) - Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi has told his Russian and Chinese counterparts that Teheran is ready to cooperate with the two countries to establish "stability and peace" in Afghanistan.
The Taleban have capped a staggeringly fast rout of Afghanistan's major cities in just 10 days, achieved with relatively little bloodshed, following two decades of war that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.
The collapse came as United States President Joe Biden moved to complete the withdrawal of US troops.
"Iran is ready to cooperate with China to establish security, stability and peace in Afghanistan and strive for its people's development, progress and prosperity," President Raisi told Chinese President Xi Jinping in a phone call on Wednesday (Aug 18) initiated from Beijing, Mr Raisi's official website said.
He also expressed Iran's readiness for "any cooperation for establishing peace and calm in Afghanistan" in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"We believe all Afghan groups should work together... and turn the US withdrawal into a turning point for lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan," Mr Raisi said.
Analysts say the Taleban's advances have put neighbouring Iran on edge, but the majority Shiite Islamic republic is taking a pragmatic stance on the hardline Sunni group's resurgence.
Iran had tense relations with the Taleban between 1996 when they took power and 2001 when they were toppled in an American-led invasion over their links to Al-Qaeda and the Sept 11, 2001, attacks.
Iran never recognised the Taleban's rule, but has stressed in recent months that they must be "part of a future solution" in Afghanistan.
The ultraconservative Mr Raisi on Monday said the defeat and US withdrawal should "offer an opportunity to restore life, security, and lasting peace" in Afghanistan.
On Sunday, Iran's Foreign Ministry said it had reduced its diplomatic presence in Afghanistan, but has kept its embassy open in Kabul.
Mr Raisi also called on China and Russia to increase Covid-19 vaccine deliveries to Iran.
He hoped that Beijing would "accelerate procurement of millions of doses purchased" and told Mr Putin that Teheran requests more shipments over its current special circumstances.
Iran, the Middle East country worst hit by the pandemic, is going through a new wave of Covid-19 deaths and infections amid an inoculation campaign that has progressed slower than the authorities had planned.
It has officially recorded more than 99,000 deaths and nearly 4.6 million infections, according to the Health Ministry.
