News story

NATO confirm Iranian support to the insurgency in Afghanistan

Foreign Secretary William Hague calls on Iran to "act in the interests of a stable and secure region".

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

NATO in Afghanistan have confirmed that weapons seized in a recent operation by Afghan and ISAF forces in Nimruz were supplied by elements within the Iranian regime and were destined for the Taliban.

Speaking in response to this, Foreign Secretary William Hague said:

“I am extremely concerned by the latest evidence that Iran continues to supply the Taleban with weaponry - weapons clearly intended to provide the Taleban with the capability to kill Afghan and ISAF soldiers from significant range. The detailed technical analysis, together with the circumstances of the seizure, leave us in no doubt that the weaponry recovered came from Iran. This is completely unacceptable. It is not the behaviour of a responsible neighbour. It is at odds with Iran’s claim to the international community and to its own people that it supports stability and security in Afghanistan. My Ambassador in Tehran raised this with the Iranian MFA earlier today. I call on Iran to act in the interests of a stable and secure region.”

Published 9 March 2011