TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei reiterated Iran’s support for Afghanistan, saying the Islamic Republic regards peace and security in the neighboring country as its own.

Ayatollah Khamenei in a Tuesday meeting with Afghanistan’s Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah in Tehran pointed to the ongoing problems facing the Afghan nation, saying that unity among various ethnic groups in the South Asian country is the most important solution to the problems.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran regards the security, tranquility and progress of Afghanistan as its own security and progress,” Ayatollah Khamenei added.

The leader further touched upon the record of close relations between Tehran and Kabul and highlighted the numerous potentials of the two Muslim countries to boost mutual cooperation in various spheres, including science and economy.

“Promotion of the level of cooperation is in the interest of both sides and differences (of opinion), like the issue of waters on joint borders, should be resolved with cordiality and cooperation,” the leader stated.

Abdullah, for his part, described insecurity and the existence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan as the country’s main problem and said Kabul is trying to resolve the problem with trust in God and through boosting unity among the Afghan people as well as cooperation with “the Iranian brothers and friends”.

Back in April 2015, Iran and Afghanistan signed two cooperation agreements as part of efforts to boost relations between the two neighbors in various areas.

In a ceremony attended by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Afghan counterpart Ashraf Ghani, high-ranking officials from the two countries singed the documents.

In 2009, Iran was one of the largest investors in Afghanistan mainly in the construction of roads and bridges as well as agriculture and health care.

By Tasnim News Agency