Ex-Iranian FM says US lobbied for a ‘good Taliban govt’ at 2001 Bonn Conference

Iran’s former foreign minister Mohammad Jawad Zarif says that at the Bonn conference, the United States planned to establish a “good Taliban government” in Afghanistan, but Europe had tried to establish a monarchy in this country.

Speaking in an interview, Zarif said that Iran met its demands at the Bonn conference and played an important role in the formation of the former government of Afghanistan.

In this interview about Iran’s fight against terrorist groups, Zarif added that accepting terrorist groups in neighboring countries is a violation of the principle of good neighborliness.

He said Tehran had maximum diplomatic coordination with the Americans at the Bonn conference.

The Bonn Conference was held in Bonn, Germany in December 2001 to establish a new government in Afghanistan and prevent chaos after the overthrow of the previous government of the Islamic Emirate.

On December 13, 2001, after 9 days of discussion, a two-stage agreement was signed between the participants, which laid the foundation for the establishment of a new system that would become the republic government.

This government however ruled for 20 years but collapsed in August 2021 and the Islamic Emirate regained control of Afghanistan.