The Impact of the Taliban's Return on the Future of Afghanistan-Iran Relations(2030–2022)

Volume 7, Issue 3 - Serial Number 26
Autumn 2023
Pages 295-327

Document Type : Original Independent Original Article

Author

Allameh Tabataba'i University, Varzesh Sq., Dehkadeh Olympic, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract
Following the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, bilateral relations

between Afghanistan and Iran have entered a complex and multifaceted phase

characterized by pragmatic engagement amid persistent challenges. This article

examines the potential impacts of these developments on the future of IranAfghanistan relations over the period from 2022 to 2030. Key factors under scrutiny

include border security, migration flows, economic interests, ideological and

sectarian influences, and the role of regional and global actors in shaping these

dynamics. Additionally, the article addresses Iran's interactions with the Taliban

government and the group's policies toward regional issues, including relations

with Western powers and engagement with domestic opposition factions in

Afghanistan. Ultimately, the article seeks to delineate various plausible scenarios

for the future of these relations based on potential political and geopolitical

developments.

The objective of this research is to analyze the multifaceted implications of the

Taliban's resurgence in Afghanistan and its consequences for the trajectory of IranAfghanistan relations. To this end, historical methods, focus group approaches,

and the theory of regional security complexes are employed to dissect

Afghanistan's political transformations and elucidate their role in directing the

Taliban's interactions with its neighbor, Iran.

Keywords

Subjects