Iran's foreign ministry on Tuesday denied a newspaper report that Tehran had held official talks on oil cooperation with Afghanistan's ruling Taliban regime.
A ministry source, cited by the state IRNA news agency, said there had been no official talks but indicated that Iranian traders have sometimes met Afghan groups "within the framework" of priavte-sector contracts.
Earlier Tuesday the daily Tehran Times said a Taliban delegation had recently met with officials from Iran's oil ministry for "fruitful" talks on petroleum cooperation, and that further meetings were planned.
Iran does not formally recognize the Taliban regime, which has been in power since 1996 when it ousted President Burhanuddin Rabbani.
The Taliban control all of Afghanistan except the far northeast, which is still controlled by forces loyal to the ousted government.—AFP.
©--Agence France Presse.
© 2000 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
