RASC News Agency: Analysts suggest that Iran is actively working to unite anti-Taliban jihadi leaders, positioning them as a strategic tool to exert pressure on the Taliban regime. According to experts, the recent visit of Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf to Tehran is as significant as Mullah Baradar’s first official trip to Iran or Mullah Akhtar Mansour’s covert visit before his assassination. These developments indicate that Tehran may be recalibrating its approach toward Afghanistan. Following high-level discussions between Ahmad Massoud and Iranian officials during his visit to Tehran weeks ago along with meetings between Iranian representatives and anti-Taliban leaders in Istanbul Sayyaf’s arrival in Iran signals growing discontent within Tehran regarding the Taliban and a potential shift in its regional strategy.
The Taliban have adopted an increasingly adversarial stance toward neighboring countries. They have refused to honor Iran’s water rights, engaged in multiple border clashes with Pakistan, and dismissed diplomatic overtures. Despite Tehran’s prior backing of the Taliban, which included political support and logistical facilitation, Iran now appears to be pivoting toward the Taliban’s opposition. Some analysts argue that the Taliban’s continued defiance toward Iran has triggered a power shift within Tehran’s decision-making circles. Those who once advocated for Taliban engagement have lost influence, while critics of the group are now taking the reins at a time when managing Afghanistan’s instability has become increasingly challenging.
Within Iranian political circles, some factions have historically viewed groups like Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham as potential strategic assets rather than outright adversaries. However, a growing segment of Iran’s leadership now views the Taliban as an unreliable and hostile entity. The Taliban’s escalating hostility toward Iran has eroded the credibility of Iranian policymakers who previously sought to portray the group as a pragmatic force. Now, both Iranian politicians and the public are becoming increasingly skeptical not only of the Taliban’s rhetoric but also of those within Iran who once defended them. In recent weeks, Iranian officials have met with several prominent figures from Afghanistan’s anti-Taliban opposition, a move that could reshape regional dynamics and redefine Tehran’s strategic approach toward Afghanistan.
