Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni has underscored the importance of expanding and strengthening relations with Afghanistan, highlighting the two countries’ deep historical, cultural, and religious ties.

Speaking on Wednesday in Tehran during a meeting with Mohammad Ibrahim Sadr, the Senior Deputy Minister for Security Affairs of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Interior, Momeni reaffirmed that relations between the two “brotherly and neighboring nations” are growing steadily.

The Afghan delegation, led by Sadr, visited Tehran to participate in the 4th Meeting of the Interior Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), which brought together senior officials from across the region.

Momeni praised Afghanistan’s constructive stance in condemning recent attacks by the Zionist regime against Iranian territory and said that President Masoud Pezeshkian is committed to supporting dialogue and resolving outstanding issues between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“Iran and Afghanistan share not only a border but also centuries of cultural and religious affinity,” Momeni said. “We are ready to enhance cooperation in security, traffic management, and technology, and to build a more stable and prosperous region together.”

For his part, Sadr thanked Iran for hosting the ECO ministerial meeting and for its continued support to Afghanistan during challenging times. He commended Iran’s consistent humanitarian and diplomatic assistance, saying, “The Islamic Republic of Iran has always stood by Afghanistan in every circumstance.”

Sadr also referred to the lasting impact of the U.S. occupation on Afghanistan, describing it as a period that “brought only destruction and hardship” to the country.

The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to closer coordination in border management, regional security, and economic cooperation, signaling a shared intent to deepen bilateral relations in the months ahead.