Iran’s Afghan balancing act amid regional upheaval
The funeral of Iran's Supreme Leader served as a backdrop for complex diplomatic maneuvering between the Taliban and the Northern Alliance. Despite Iran's historical support for the Northern Alliance, the country is currently navigating a delicate balancing act to maintain influence in Afghanistan.
Why it matters
It illustrates the shifting geopolitical landscape in Central Asia following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the ongoing regional power struggles.
The funeral proceedings of Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, that stretched over a week amid a spiralling war and significant internal turmoil at the seat of power for Shiism, saw multiple personalities visit Tehran. Almost unnoticed, however, was the presence of delegations from both the Taliban and the opposition Northern Alliance. The two have been fighting each other, in various iterations, over Afghanistan since the 1990s.
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