Iran rigorously pursuing release of media photographer held by Taliban: Foreign Ministry spox
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani says the Islamic Republic’s diplomatic apparatus is rigorously pursuing the release of an Iranian media photographer recently taken into custody by the Taliban-run government in Afghanistan.
Mohammad Hossein Velayati legally entered Afghanistan through the air border on Saturday and stayed in Kabul for 10 days. Velayati, who works for Iran's Tasnim news agency, was arrested at the international airport in the Afghan capital shortly before boarding a flight back to Iran.
Afghan authorities have not provided any explanation as to why he was arrested.
“After making inquiries about the matter, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately started its follow-up work with the relevant Afghan authorities and is seriously pursuing his release,” Kan'ani said in a news briefing on Wednesday.
Earlier, Iran's special envoy to Afghanistan Hassan Kazemi-Qomi also said the Islamic Republic’s mission in Kabul was following up on the matter.
“We are following up [on the matter] seriously and I had a conversation with Kabul and the [Afghan] intelligence agencies a few minutes ago to get to hold talks with the [Taliban] authorities there,” Kazemi-Qomi said.
“I was told that they are pursuing this issue and, God willing, it will come to a conclusion soon,” he added.
Velayati is a photographer and editor of Tasnim news agency. The Taliban have yet to provide any information on the circumstances around his arrest and current health condition.
The Taliban took over power in Afghanistan in August 2021 following Washington peace talks with the militant group that eventually led to hasty withdrawal of US and NATO troops from the country after their 20-year destructive occupation of it in the name of "war on terror" and "nation building."
No country has yet recognized the Taliban's rule over Afghanistan. Since their takeover, the Taliban have been struggling to contain a deepening economic crisis.
Regional nations say the establishment of peace and stability in Afghanistan is only possible through the formation of a broad-based government in the war-ravaged country.
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