Iran emphasizes national security council role in nuclear talks with US

The visit, the first by an Iranian foreign minister since the Taliban's 2021 return to power, focused on trade relations, the return of Afghan migrants, and Iran’s contentious water rights from the Helmand River.

Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, wrote in a message on X: "This visit could be a turning point in leveraging the numerous ties between the two nations to secure the mutual interests of both countries."

On Sunday, Araghchi met with Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, the Taliban's acting prime minister, and Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister.

Water rights dominate discussions

One key issue discussed was Iran's longstanding dispute over water rights from the Helmand River, vital for Iran’s drought-stricken Sistan-Baluchestan province which relies on the Helmand River to sustain its wetlands, including the Hamoun Lake.

Iranian officials emphasized that Afghanistan must honor its obligations under the 1973 Helmand Water Treaty.

Iranian media reported on Sunday that Taliban representatives assured Araghchi they were working to ensure water flowed to Iran without waste.

There have been escalating tensions over the construction of dams on transboundary rivers, which have significantly reduced water flow to Iran’s drought-stricken eastern provinces.

The recently completed Pashdan Dam on the Harirud River in Afghanistan has become the latest focal point in the longstanding dispute.

Afghanistan’s water management projects have attracted foreign investment, adding complexity to the issue.

Countries such as China and Turkey are leveraging Afghanistan's water sector to establish strategic footholds in the region. The Pashdan Dam itself was built with assistance from an Azerbaijani firm, highlighting the international dimensions of the dispute.

The issue now dates back decades. In 1999, the Taliban completely halted the flow of the Helmand River, causing significant environmental and economic hardship for Iran.

Although a 1973 treaty guarantees Iran a share of the river's water, enforcement has been inconsistent, often leaving Iran's eastern provinces in a state of crisis.

Migration challenges and security concerns

Araghchi’s visit also addressed the repatriation of undocumented Afghan migrants. Iran, which hosts millions of Afghans, has ramped up deportations, with nearly three million undocumented individuals sent back in the past three years, according to government figures.

The discussions come against a backdrop of heightened border tensions and security concerns for both sides. Amir Khan Muttaqi called the visit “an opportunity to deepen brotherly ties between two neighboring Muslim nations that have shared both grief and joy."

Iran shares over 900 kilometers (560 miles) of its border with Afghanistan and hosts one of the largest refugee populations globally, predominantly Afghans who fled during more than two decades of war.

Afghanistan has historically seen a steady flow of migrants into Iran. However, following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, this influx has surged, with millions crossing the border.

Some reports indicate that up to 10,000 Afghans have been entering Iran daily, pushing the Afghan population in the country to nearly 10 million.

Many Iranians have criticized the government for failing to secure the border, suspecting that it intends to use Afghan migrants as foot soldiers—both to suppress discontent within the domestic population and to deploy across the region to bolster its military allies and proxies, as documented by Human Rights Watch.

In December, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, said that "over six million Afghans have sought refuge in Iran."

Economic prospects in focus

Trade featured prominently in Araghchi’s agenda, with a specialized Iranian delegation accompanying him, Afghanistan a key partner for Iran, with bilateral trade volumes reaching $3.2 billion last year.

Iran aims to increase this figure to $5 billion in two years, supported by infrastructure projects like the Khaf-Herat railway and the development of the Dogharoon trade zone.

"The economic relations between Iran and Afghanistan are at a very good level," Araghchi said during the meetings, expressing hope for their further enhancement.

Zakir Jalali, a senior Taliban foreign ministry official, hailed Araghchi’s visit as a “gateway to a new phase in relations.” Economic cooperation, Jalali noted, is essential for addressing mutual challenges and leveraging shared cultural and historical ties.

Iran has not officially recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, with countries such as the EU, US and UK still designating them as a terrorist organization.

However, Iran maintains a pragmatic approach. Following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, Iran kept its embassy in Kabul open and has continued to engage with Taliban officials.

After Zarif suggested the country was more open to international diplomacy under the new presidency, including with its archenemy the US, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Parliament, warned officials to tread carefully in their public statements to avoid emboldening adversaries.

Ghalibaf said that projecting a perception of weakness from Iran’s leadership could prompt “miscalculations by the incoming US administration and worsen economic pressures.”

Iran faces a serious economic crisis, expected to get worse if US President Donald Trump puts more sanctions pressure. As a result, debate is now raging in Tehran as Iran's Supreme Leader has not authorized any new negotiations.

Zarif, a former foreign minister and now Iran's Vice-President for Strategic Affairs, stirred controversy when he suggested in a Wednesday interview with CNN host Fareed Zakaria that if conservative politician Saeed Jalili had been elected president instead of Masoud Pezeshkian last July, a major war might have been underway in the region.

Zarif’s attempt to portray Iran as seeking de-escalation and potentially relaxing hijab laws backfired, drawing heavy criticism from both the Iranian public for denying pressure on women, and officials. A senior official called for his immediate arrest.

Hardliners have launched an online petition urging the IRGC Intelligence Organization to arrest Zarif immediately over his hijab remarks, which they claim amount to an effort for regime change. Nearly 55,000 people have signed the petition so far.

Ahmad Khatami, a senior Friday prayer leader, has also criticized the idea of US-Iran negotiations, describing them as “a tactic to counter the revolution.”

The conservative Kayhan newspaper and figures close to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei amplified the critiques, with some calling for Zarif’s prosecution.

Conservatives Denounce Zarif’s Tone

Zarif’s acknowledgment that Iran no longer harshly enforces the hijab sparked particular outrage among hardliners. Mohammad Manan Raisi, a representative from Qom accused Zarif on Sunday of violating the country’s laws and disrespecting religious mandates.

“This individual has brazenly mocked God’s explicit command at an international forum,” Raisi said, referencing Zarif’s comment about unveiled women in Tehran and saying the government has relaxed hijab enforcement in Iran.

Raisi also criticized institutional inaction, saying that efforts to address Zarif’s remarks had stalled.

The Ham Mihan newspaper, however, defended Zarif’s remarks, saying that Fareed Zakaria's question was based on the premise that the presence or absence of moderates in the political structure of the Islamic Republic makes no difference, and Zarif sought to refute this notion.

The paper argued that Zarif’s engagement at Davos sought to portray Iran as a rational actor committed to international norms, despite significant internal and external challenges.

Domestic Debate on Negotiations

Citing European officials, Axios recently reported that Iran may be signaling openness to a new agreement distinct from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Despite this, opposition to dialogue with the US remains fierce among hardliners.

Fatemeh Mohajerani, the Government Spokeswoman speaking to ILNA, sought to assuage concerns about negotiations on Sunday, emphasizing that decisions on critical issues like the nuclear program are made within the Supreme National Security Council.

“We assure concerned individuals that decision-making in the country follows a completely rational and well-established process,” she said.

Zarif’s attempt to position Iran as a cooperative global player has drawn fire from conservatives who view his comments as signaling capitulation. Critics argue that such rhetoric undermines the nation’s revolutionary ideals, while supporters see it as a pragmatic effort to mitigate international isolation.

The Iranian delegation plans to visit polling stations in the capital to closely monitor the electoral process.

Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, is seeking his seventh term in office.

The election has been widely criticized by opposition figures and international observers as lacking genuine competition. Many opposition leaders are either imprisoned or in exile, leading to allegations that the election is a mere formality to extend Lukashenko's rule.

The European Parliament has denounced the election as a sham, urging the international community not to recognize its results and to support the Belarusian people's pursuit of democracy and human rights.

Iran's own electoral process has been criticized by international observers, including Freedom House, which has noted the influence of Iran's Guardian Council, an unelected body that vets candidates, as a key factor limiting the country's democratic standards.

Freedom House says of Iran's democratic process: "The Islamic Republic of Iran holds elections regularly, but they fall short of democratic standards due in part to the influence of the hard-line Guardian Council, an unelected body that disqualifies all candidates it deems insufficiently loyal to the clerical establishment. Ultimate power rests in the hands of the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and the unelected institutions under his control."

"Like Gaza, we too must resist the US," Ahmad Khatami, who also serves as Tehran's interim Friday prayer leader, said on Saturday while speaking at a mosque in Kashan, central Iran.

"I am confident that as long as the people stand firm, they will take the dream of negotiating with the US to their graves," the ultra conservative cleric added.

The US and Iran have not had diplomatic ties since 1980 and in recent days, leaders at Friday prayers across Iran have delivered strong rebukes of US policies.

Earlier, Khatami said that the Islamic Republic's founder Ruhollah Khomeini had labeled the US as the "Great Satan," a sentiment which he said was consistently reaffirmed by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Khatami argued that the primary aim of the US in seeking talks was "a means to confront the Revolution.”

Ahmad Alamolhoda, Mashhad's hardline Friday prayer leader, has also criticized those advocating for dialogue with the West.

While Iranian hardliners reject overtures from Washington, moderate voices within the country have pointed to potential openings under Trump’s renewed tenure.

"Masoud Pezeshkian has said in the inner circles of power that he will serve only one term as president and does not intend to run in the next presidential election," pro-government Sazandegi newspaper reported, without giving further details.

The report was released shortly after Pezeshkian and one of his vice presidents posed for photos dressed as construction workers while laying bricks for the construction of a school in Khuzestan, southwestern Iran.

Sazandegi praised Pezeshkian’s brick-laying gesture as "beautiful", but many social media users, including both conservatives supporting the Islamic Republic and dissidents, criticized it as populism.

"The exchange rate for every US dollar has soared to 838,000 rials, and the president is busy shoveling dirt and cement," one user on X quipped.

Another anonymous user, a cleric, commented, "If the previous ultraconservative President (Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad had done the same, the media would have criticized him with all kinds of harsh words."

However, in its Saturday report, Sazandegi countered that the gesture could not be considered populist, as Pezeshkian has no intention of running for reelection.