Iran has been holding talks with the Taliban government with the knowledge of the government in Kabul, said a senior Iranian security official according to the IRNA news agency Wednesday.
The news came days after reports last week of talks between US and Taliban officials over proposals for a ceasefire in Afghanistan and a future withdrawal of foreign troops ahead of possible peace negotiations.
Talks between Iran and the Taliban were held "to help curb the security problems in Afghanistan," Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, was quoted by IRNA as saying.
"All contacts and talks with the Taliban group have been with the knowledge of Afghanistan's government and this process will continue," he said. He gave no further details.
The talks come despite US accusations that Tehran was extending its influence in western Afghanistan by providing the Taliban with money, weapons and explosives. Iran denies that.
In November, the United States displayed pieces of Iranian weapons supplied to militants in Yemen and Afghanistan, a move by Washington to pressure Tehran to curb its regional activities. Iran denies supplying arms to the militants.
In October, the United States accused Iran of providing military training, financing and weapons to the Taliban and targeted sanctions against eight individuals, including two linked to the Quds Force of Iran´s Revolutionary Guards. Tehran denies the accusations.
