On April 19, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani arrived in Tehran for a two-day visit with Iranian officials, his first since taking office in September. He was accompanied by six other Afghan officials, including Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani and National Security Advisor Muhammad Hanif Atmar. Ghani met with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani during his visit, and signed two agreements to increase cooperation in countering terrorism and drug trafficking. The following are excerpted remarks from Afghan and Iranian officials during Ghani’s visit.
Iran
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
“In addition to its rich human and cultural resources, Afghanistan also enjoys abundant natural resources. These potentialities and commonalities should all serve to upgrade cooperation between the two countries.”
“Of course, the Americans and some countries in the region are unaware of the potentialities of Afghanistan and do not favor rapport and cooperation between the two countries either, but Iran regards the security and progress of its neighbor, Afghanistan, as its own security and progress.”
“Issues between the two countries, including ‘immigrants, water, transportation and security’ are all resolvable and everyone should deal with and settle these issues seriously and within the framework of a timeframe.”
—April 19, 2015, in a meeting with President Ghani
President Hassan Rouhani
"We need intelligence sharing and, if necessary, cooperation in operations because the problems that exist are not restricted and gradually spread throughout the region, affecting everyone."
“We are very happy to witness unity and fraternity in Afghanistan and such a national integration is necessary for public development and welfare. Mutual confidence of people and government is the highest national asset and its result is stability, security and subsequently development which are both in favor of Afghan people and regional nations.”
“Both countries want establishment of peace and stability in the entire region, believing that in regional countries, including Yemen, problems cannot be settled through military means. Using planes and bombardment will not be effective, rather, in any country, people and political groups should remove their own problems through national dialogue and other governments and neighbors should prepare the ground for holding the dialogue.”
—April 19, 2015, in a meeting with Afghan officials
Afghanistan
President Ashraf Ghani
“People die daily, we face barbarism…and without greater cooperation a macabre phenomenon such as Daesh cannot be contained.”
"Relations between Iran and Afghanistan are historical and long-lasting and have various dimensions.”
"Today, we are facing the serious threat posed by various forms of terrorism…However, the Afghan nation's determination (to stand up against terrorism) is strong.”
"Our objective is [to see] Afghanistan become a communications hub in the region and regain its former status as the linking intersection in the region."
"Our political will is based on expanding bilateral ties and we have to make efforts to boost common and positive points between the two countries."
"The issues between the two countries should be resolved based on the political will of both governments and based on a timeframe set during this visit.”
"None of our neighbors has been as serious as Iran with regard to the threat of narcotics and no country has fought it like Iran, and we are ready to combat this scourge with the help of Iran.”
"Under your [Khamenei’s] wise leadership, Iran has stabilized its historic identity and we hope that under the aegis of this wise leadership, we will witness closer cooperation between the two countries."
—April 20, 2015, in a meeting with Iranian officials 