The visiting Afghan President Hamed Karzai and his accompanying delegation met the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Saturday, May 27.
Speaking at the meeting, which was also attended by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Leader referred to the deep-rooted cultural, religious and historical bonds between the Iranian and Afghan nations as a suitable groundwork for the further consolidation of bilateral relations between the two countries.
Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the expansion of relations between Iran and Afghanistan would promote the national and common interests of both countries.
"Neighboring countries will benefit from each other's growth and development and stability and security, and the officials of the two countries are expected to try to expand their cooperation by building on the numerous cultural, ideological and linguistic commonalities of the two nations of Iran and Afghanistan," he added.
The Leader referred to the cooperation on certain issues such as that of the Hirmand River and Iran's active participation in the process of Afghanistan's reconstruction as the major factors contributing to the consolidation of bilateral relations between the two countries.
He noted that it is necessary to resist the malicious goals of hegemonic powers, which are opposed to cooperation among the regional countries, and foil them in their plots and machinations that are aimed at fomenting discord and division.
Further in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei touched on the issue of narcotic drugs and referred to the great harm that is inflicted on the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic of Iran for their campaign against narcotics. The stressed that the increase in the amount of land under poppy cultivation in Afghanistan proves the falsity of U.S. claim that it is fighting narcotics in Afghanistan.
"The fact of the matter is that hegemonic and domineering powers never care about the welfare and interests of nations," Ayatollah Khamenei added.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic also expressed pleasure over the advancing process of the establishment of government institutions in Afghanistan.
"Because of the interventions on the part of alien powers and due to aberrant regimes, Afghanistan has very much lagged behind over the past decades. But the Afghan nation with its strong cultural background, brilliant talent and exemplary perseverance is able to tread the path to progress and development, provided that the United States and European countries stop interfering in Afghanistan's internal affairs," the Leader pointed out.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the assistance extended by the Iranian nation and government to Afghanistan as motivated by a sense of duty. He expressed the hope that the results of President Karzai's visit to Iran would bring about further consolidation of relations between the two countries.
The Leader also stressed that the strengthening of ties between the three Persian-speaking countries of Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan would serve the interests of these countries, and he called for more earnest measures to achieve this objective.
Afghan President Hamed Karzai, for his part, expressed his deep appreciation and gratitude for the assistance extended by the Islamic Republic of Iran to Afghanistan.
"The Afghan people will never forget the support and assistance of their Iranian brothers, and we feel proud that we have a friend like the Iranian nation and government in the world," the Afghan president noted.
President Karzai referred to historical and cultural commonalities, a sound understanding of Afghanistan's issues on the part of Iran and the Afghan nation's desire for the expansion of relations with the Iranian nation as the main factors strengthening the relations between the two countries.
"We consider our future to be contingent on the cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and we are desirous of the best ties and relations with your country," the Afghan president told the Leader.