Iran’s UN ambassador insisted that “only a comprehensive peace process led by Afghanistan can resolve the current conflict in the country” and asserted that “all foreign forces must refrain from interfering in Afghanistan’s peace talks and the negotiations must be facilitated by the UN”. He also hailed “progress that has been made in the negotiations so far” and expressed “Iran’s readiness to play a more active role in the process”. The Iranian envoy went on to emphasise that “despite U.S. illegal sanctions, the Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to expand bilateral relations with Afghanistan”.