Leader: Enemies’ Divisive Plots to Weaken Iran-Afghanistan Ties Doomed to Failure

(FNA)- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei underlined that Washington and its regional allies are not able to undermine Tehran-Kabul friendly relations.

“Of course, the Americans and some countries in the region are not familiar with Afghanistan’s potentialities and do not favor empathy and cooperation between the two countries, but Iran regards security and progress of its neighbor, Afghanistan, as its own security and progress,” Ayatollah Khamenei said in a meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Tehran on Sunday.

The Leader also stressed the importance of determination by Tehran and Kabul to strengthen cooperation.

Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to great cultural and historical commonalities between the two neighboring countries, saying Afghanistan's rich human, cultural and natural resources should serve Iran-Afghanistan cooperation.

The Afghan president arrived in Tehran on Sunday to confer on the latest regional developments and explore new ways for the promotion of mutual cooperation.  

Iran is one of the most important donors to Afghanistan, which has kept its promises to help to the reconstruction of the war-ravaged country.

Iran has built several roads, power transmission lines, border stations and many other infrastructure projects to better link the two nations.

Iran has also contributed more than $50mln annually to Afghan anti-narcotics efforts during the last five years.