Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi (R) meets in Tehran with UN Special Envoy to Afghanistan Jan Kubis on May 22, 2013.[/caption]Iran has reiterated its opposition to US plans to establish permanent military bases in Afghanistan after the planned withdrawal of US-led foreign forces from the country in 2014.
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said on Wednesday that the United States does not need to establish military bases in Afghanistan and stressed that Afghan forces should take full responsibility for the country's security.
Salehi made the remarks during a meeting in Tehran with Jan Kubis, the UN special envoy to Afghanistan and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
Kubis underlined Irans key role in the region and called for more cooperation from Afghanistans neighboring countries to reconstruct the war-torn country. The UNAMA chief also demanded that Iran help Afghanistan advance its political transition and hold elections.
The United States invaded Afghanistan in 2001 under the pretext of combating terrorism. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity continues to rise across the country despite the presence of thousands of US-led soldiers.
In 2011, Afghan President Hamid Karzai confirmed for the first time that the administration of US President Barack Obama had demanded the establishment of a system of permanent US military bases across Afghanistan.
In May 2012, Washington and Kabul signed an agreement that authorized the presence of US troops for a period of 10 years after 2014, which was the original date agreed earlier for the departure of all foreign combat troopers from Afghanistan.
Afghan officials now say Washington picked some cities for its military bases during its recent talks with Kabul.
By Press TV
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