Iran has announced the closing of one of its most important border crossing with Afghanistan amid an intensification of the violence in the war-torn country.
This comes as Afghan citizens are entering neighboring countries to escape the violence by the Taliban, Middle East Monitor reported.
Mohammad Hadi Marashi, the provincial deputy governor for security affairs in Sistan and Baluchestan, told the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) that the border between Iran and Afghanistan in the Milak District of the province has been closed due to ongoing battles in the city of Zaranj, near the Iranian border.
Marashi added: “The city of Nomruz in Afghanistan fell last night and the Taliban movement controlled most of the city’s areas, before they retreated after military reinforcements arrived at the city.”
The Iranian official indicated: “The situation on the border is calm at the moment.” He noted: “In order to protect national interests, the region’s army, border forces and police are fully stationed in the border area and on Ibrahim Bridge to monitor any possible Afghan movements.”
Iran, which shares 921 kilometres long border with Afghanistan, fears that the escalation of violence in the war-torn country will have a fallout effect in the neighboring countries.
The country has three border ports with Afghanistan-the Dogaron port, which the Taliban took control over on 8 July, and the Islam Qala port.
The Islam Qala port is an important transit route between the two countries, linking the Herat district to the Razavi Khorasan province, north-eastern Iran.
The border between Afghanistan and Iran stretches over 921 kilometres.
As the military conflict intensified in western Afghanistan, Afghan families fled to the Iranian border areas on Friday night.
At the UNSC meeting on Afghanistan on Friday, member states expressed concern about the deteriorating situation and called for a political settlement.
