Iran Urges Taliban To 'Clarify Dimensions' Of 1998 Attack That Killed 9 Iranians

Iran has once again emphasized the need to "clarify the dimensions" of an attack on its consulate in northern Afghanistan's Mazar-e-Sharif city on Aug. 8, 1998, that killed eight diplomats and a journalist.

Tuesday marks the 25th anniversary of the incident that brought Iran and the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan on the verge of direct military confrontation.

The incident happened after the Taliban, ruling the country at the time, seized the city of Mazar-e-Sharif, the stronghold of its rival Northern Alliance.

In a statement released Tuesday, Iran's Foreign Ministry said the day is a "reminder of very bitter memory" of the killing of eight diplomats and a reporter working for state-run news agency IRNA.

While condemning the "bitter and unforgettable incident," the ministry repeated the call to "clarify the dimensions of the incident as a definite demand."

The ministry's statement said the incident was widely condemned worldwide, including by the people of Afghanistan, which was the "manifestation of the unity of people of the two countries."

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian also posted a statement on his Instagram page on Tuesday, referring to the close "collaboration" between diplomats and media persons.

He also stressed the need to "strengthen the position of the media" as Aug. 8 is also commemorated as National Journalists Day in the country.

Iran's Foreign Ministry issues a statement every year on Aug. 8, seeking clarification on the incident, which is blamed on the Taliban authorities.

The Taliban, however, has denied responsibility for it, saying the attack was not carried out on their orders.

In May, following cross-border clashes between Iranian border guards and Taliban soldiers, Amirabdollahian recalled the 1998 incident and said Iran "does not want repeat" of it.

Relations between the two sides have markedly soured since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in August 2021 amid a series of border skirmishes and the dispute over shared water resources. -