RASC News Agency: Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, refused to meet with a Taliban delegation that traveled to Tehran to attend the funeral of Ebrahim Raisi, the Iranian president. The Taliban delegation, including Mullah Baradar and Amir Khan Muttaqi, concluded their visit to Tehran on Thursday, May 23, without meeting Khamenei and returned to Kabul empty-handed.
Khamenei’s refusal to meet the high-ranking Taliban delegation came despite his meetings with other dignitaries and officials who attended Raisi’s funeral. Iranian media reported that over the past two days, Khamenei has met with the presidents of Tunisia, the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, the head of Hamas’ political bureau, the Emir of Qatar, and the prime ministers of Pakistan, Iraq, and Armenia, among other foreign officials.
Diplomatic norms and international political principles typically dictate that leaders welcome and hold courtesy talks with officials attending such events. However, by ignoring the senior Taliban officials, Khamenei dealt a blow to Afghanistan’s international prestige under Taliban rule. It is reported that Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran’s special envoy for Afghanistan affairs, who is viewed by some analysts as sympathetic to the Taliban, accompanied the delegation.
It is believed that the Taliban sought to discuss issues related to Afghanistan and strengthen bilateral relations during their visit. However, Khamenei declined the meeting due to the delegation’s perceived proximity to the United States. During their visit, the Taliban delegation did meet briefly with the Qatari delegation and the head of Hamas’ political bureau.
The Taliban’s visit to Iran coincides with the deaths of former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir Hossein Abdollahian, and several other officials in a helicopter crash.
