Tehran, Aug 6, IRNA � Promotion of development and security in Afghanistan is Iran's principled policy, says Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.


'Afghanistan is Iran's friendly neighbor and its development and security are tantamount to the development and security in Iran,' Zarif told the visiting Afghanistan National Security Advisor Mohammad Hanif Atmar on Saturday.

Iran and Afghanistan need to further their cooperation in all areas more than the past, he said.

Iran's top diplomat also referred to the decree by the Islamic Republic Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on education of Afghan children in Iran.

'This evidently shows that the Islamic Republic believe highly in development of Afghanistan,' Zarif said.

Hanif Atmar, on his part, said that cooperation with Iran is vital for Afghanistan.

The Afghanistan National Security Advisor also referred to the joint international venture in Iran's southern port of Chabahar that will provide landlocked Afghanistan with access to the international waters and said, the project is going to serve as the launching pad for further crucial cooperation between Tehran and Kabul.

By IRNA