Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has no restrictions on issuing visas to Afghan citizens and that the Foreign Ministry is ready to cooperate in facilitating the visa process.
Araghchi said Iran also wants to expand trade, cross-border travel and economic cooperation with Afghanistan, emphasizing that many issues affecting communities along the two countries’ border could be addressed through direct engagement between neighboring regions.
He said Iran’s Foreign Ministry faces no restrictions regarding visa applications from Afghan citizens and is prepared to help facilitate the issuance of visas. He did not specify whether any changes to existing visa procedures or requirements were planned.
Araghchi also identified Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkmenistan as important economic neighbors for Iran, particularly as Tehran continues to operate under international sanctions. He said neighboring countries could provide significant opportunities for expanding Iran’s economic and commercial activities.
The Iranian foreign minister further stressed the importance of cooperation between border regions, saying local authorities and provinces on both sides could work directly to address problems affecting border communities. According to him, resolving some of these issues does not necessarily require negotiations between the central governments in Tehran and Kabul.
Araghchi said Iran’s northeastern province of Razavi Khorasan has the potential to strengthen economic, commercial and transportation links with neighboring countries. The province, which borders Afghanistan, is an important gateway for trade and movement between the two countries, with Mashhad serving as a major commercial and transport hub.
Iran and Afghanistan share a long border, while cross-border movement remains important for trade, transit, medical treatment and family travel. Iran has also sought to expand its economic engagement with Afghanistan through border crossings and regional trade routes.
The remarks come as Afghanistan continues to face a difficult economic and humanitarian situation, with millions of people dependent on humanitarian assistance and restrictions on movement, employment and access to essential services affecting vulnerable communities.
