Tehran has aided the peaceful development of its western neighbor Afghanistan , following the overthrow of the Taliban and the election of Hamid Karzai to the Afghani presidency. Moreover, the U.S. and Iranian governments have cooperated to ensure the shared goal of a stable Afghanistan governed by an enduring and capable central government. However, Tehran?s most pressing national security concerns -U.S. threats against the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program and continued support for terrorism ? take precedence over their thus far benevolent policy towards Afghanistan. The ability to harm significant U.S. interests ? stability in Afghanistan and Iraq ? is a prized variable in the U.S.-Iranian relationship.
Given the high level of hostility between the U.S. and Iran since the 1979 American Embassy hostage crisis (Terrorist Attack), the level of cooperation on Afghanistan is a diplomatic breakthrough. In toppling the Taliban government, American forces relieved Iran of a bitter and implacable enemy. Iran?s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei had referred to the Taliban regime as a disgrace to Islam, both governments consistently supported the opposition groups in each other?s country, and all-out war was barely averted in the aftermath of the Taliban?s execution of nine Iranian diplomats. Following America?s 2001 invasion, Tehran sent representatives to a U.S. convened conference in Germany to plan the Afghans? transition to a democratic government. Subsequently, there was temporary cooperation from Tehran in capturing Arab and Al Qaeda fighters that had fled into Iran, and U.S. and Iranian reps held secret consultations in Geneva regarding Afghanistan and the plans for a possible invasion of Iraq (the private talks ended when the May, 2003 attack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was tied to Al Qaeda operatives working from Iran). Tehran has also answered the U.S. call for international aid to Afghanistan, becoming a top donor nation through its $204 million contribution to the Afghani economy (see this WAR Report).
Iran and Afghanistan are historically and culturally connected: sharing a vast border, centuries of mutually beneficial trade, and a common language. Indeed, Herat, a main city of Afghanistan, once belonged to the Persian Empire. In the aftermath the U.S. overthrow of the Taliban government, Iran was quick to re-establish ties to Afghanistan. Iranian President Khatami visited Kabul in August, 2002 and a series of bilateral trade agreements were reached between the two neighbors shortly thereafter. Furthermore, Iran has opened up several of its ports to Afghani trade ? offering an alternative to the port of Karachi in Pakistan . Along with India and several Central Asian states, Iran has become a principal trading partner for Afghanistan, and has significantly aided its infrastructure development by building roads and schools, and providing electricity (see this WAR Report).
Despite its interest in the development of a stable and prosperous neighbor, Tehran will maintain the option of sowing disarray in Afghanistan as a counter-threat to U.S. pressure against the Iranian nuclear program and the Islamic regime itself. Perversely, Iran?s positive involvement in Afghanistan has placed it in a unique position to disrupt Afghani progress by negatively exerting its economic influence: cancelled trade agreements, cutting-off aid, etc. From a security perspective, economic progress and development is integrally tied to winning popular support for the Karzai government; the rise of Al Qaeda and Taliban activity in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region has raised urgency in this regard . Additionally, the speculated IRGC presence in Afghanistan, potentially working with foreign terrorists or indigenous extremist groups, provides Tehran with a supplemental avenue for destabilizing its neighbor. As the police chief in the Afghan town of Shindad noted, ?From Iran they are bringing explosive material to Afghanistan. They don?t want Afghanistan to be at peace because they are at war with the U.S.? (see this WAR Report).