Tehran — In a decisive telephone exchange on July 27, 2025, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Afghanistan’s Taliban Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi discussed strengthening bilateral relations, regional security concerns, and the escalating humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. This dialogue signals a deepening alliance between Tehran and Kabul amid intensifying Middle Eastern tensions and signals a strategic realignment that could significantly impact the region’s geopolitical landscape.
Minister Araghchi underscored the urgent need for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to convene a ministerial meeting aimed at coordinating a unified response to the ongoing Israeli military aggression in Gaza. “The Islamic world must take collective action to halt the ongoing genocide in Gaza and support Palestinian sovereignty,” Araghchi asserted, reflecting Iran’s hardline stance against Israel’s operations.
The discussion also addressed Afghanistan’s current refugee challenges. Araghchi reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to facilitating the dignified and gradual repatriation of Afghan refugees, a sensitive issue given recent reports of more than a million Afghans being expelled from Iran under mounting political and economic pressures. The repatriation process remains a potential flashpoint for instability along the Iran-Afghanistan border.
Afghanistan’s Minister Muttaqi voiced strong condemnation of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, urging Islamic nations to intensify their solidarity and practical support for Palestinians. He appealed for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for the international community to recognize the catastrophic toll of Israel’s operation on civilians.
Beyond humanitarian concerns, this diplomatic exchange signals a burgeoning strategic partnership between Iran and Afghanistan under the Taliban’s leadership—a development that many analysts interpret as a warning to Israel and its Western allies. The United States, long humiliated by its defeat in Afghanistan the “graveyard of empires,” now faces a rising axis between Iran and Afghanistan that could become a persistent regional threat. The alignment raises the prospect that if Afghanistan fully commits to opposing Israel, the decades-long conflict could deepen, potentially consuming Israel in a prolonged struggle.
This emerging alliance is emblematic of the shifting power dynamics in the Middle East and South Asia, where regional players seek to counterbalance Western influence and Israeli military aggression. It reflects a broader trend of Islamic countries rallying to support Palestine amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza, reshaping diplomatic and security calculations in the area.
According to the Mehr News Agency, this dialogue marks a significant step in Iran-Afghanistan relations, emphasizing cooperation on regional security and humanitarian issues. The focus on Gaza and refugee matters highlights the intertwined nature of regional conflicts and the humanitarian fallout that continues to escalate.
