Iran Critical Of US-Afghan Agreement
Iran is concerned about the strategic cooperation agreement signed between the United States and Afghanistan and says that it will lead to further insecurity and instability in its neighbouring country.
IRNA reports that Ramin Mehmanparast, a spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, said on Saturday: “The Islamic Republic announces its concern about the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement between the U.S. and Afghanistan.”
“The ambiguity in the future situation of U.S. military bases in Afghanistan and the lack of clarity around the security functions of U.S. forces are major topics of concern for Iran,” he added.
U.S. President Barack Obama paid a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Wednesday May 2 to sign the agreement between the U.S. and Afghanistan.
The agreement stipulates that the U.S. will remove all its active forces from Afghanistan by 2014 but will continue military and civilian relations for at least 10 years.
The agreement also gives Afghanistan responsibility for its own security, but U.S. forces are to remain in Afghanistan under diplomatic immunity to train Afghan security forces.
