Tehran has officially handed over its Afghan consulate to the Taliban government, marking a significant shift in diplomatic relations between Iran and Afghanistan. This decision comes after a prolonged dispute regarding the management of the consulate, which has drawn mixed reactions within Iranian circles.
The diplomatic tension arose when Kabul appointed a new consul general without Iran's consent, which Tehran viewed as a violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention. The recent resolution of this dispute has sparked criticism, particularly as it occurred just before the inauguration of Iran's new president, Masoud Pezeshkian.
Iranian officials have expressed concerns about the implications of this decision, especially since the Taliban regime is not officially recognized by Iran. Critics argue that the rush to resolve the consulate issue could pose challenges for the incoming administration, highlighting the complexities of managing relations with an unrecognized government.
