Iran Blasts US As Main Cause of Current Problems in Afghanistan

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi blasted the US for being the root cause of the current problems facing the war-torn Afghanistan, and called on the international bodies and the European countries to fulfill their obligations with respect to the refugees.

 Vahidi made the remarks in a Monday meeting with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi in Tehran.

The Iranian interior minister pointed out that Iran has a positive attitude toward the UN high commissioner’s office because of its efforts to provide humanitarian services.

Referring to the United States’ approach to Afghanistan, Vahidi said, "The current conditions in Afghanistan are caused by the United States, because Washington has blocked the Afghan people’s money and this is the root cause of problems currently facing people of Afghanistan."

"We expect the international community to understand this fact and to live up to its obligations vis-à-vis foreign nationals residing in Iran," he added.

The Iranian interior minister also said that the Islamic Republic also expects effective financial support from international organizations and the European Union in order to provide more services to Afghan refugees.

Around 300,000 Afghan migrants have entered Iran following the collapse of the Kabul government and the Taliban’s takeover.

Afghanistan is facing what UN agencies have described as “one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters” since the collapse of Kabul in mid-August.

The US military withdrew its forces from Afghanistan 20 years after they invaded the country to topple the Taliban, in a war that killed, according to one estimate, between 897,000 and 929,000 people.

Since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan, the US and its allies have imposed sanctions on the Central Asian country and deprived Afghans of any aid and assistance on the pretext of pressuring the Taliban.