Taliban Pledges Cooperation With Iran if U.S. Launches Strike

The Taliban said Sunday it would cooperate with Iran if the United States launches military strikes against the Islamic Republic, while emphasizing that it does not seek a broader war between Washington and Tehran.

The remarks, delivered in interviews with Iranian and Persian-language media, signal Kabul’s positioning amidst rising Middle East tensions and come months after the June 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, place the Taliban publicly alongside Tehran in the event of escalation.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Radio Iran’s Pashto-language service that Afghans are prepared to “cooperate and show sympathy” with Iran if assistance is requested in the event of a U.S. attack. He clarified that such cooperation would be “within their capabilities” and would not automatically mean joining a retaliatory war against the United States.

In a related interview with BBC Persian, Mujahid reiterated that the Taliban does not support the outbreak of war and expressed hope that military confrontation between Washington and Tehran “could be avoided.” He said the group prefers diplomatic efforts and continued negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.

Mujahid also praised Tehran’s conduct during the June fighting with Israel, stating that Iran “was victorious in the 12-day war” and would prevail again if attacked. “Iran is capable of defending itself and emerged victorious in the previous 12-day war with Israel,” he said, adding that Iran “has the capability, is in the right, and has the right to defend itself.”

During that conflict, Israel carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities, senior military leadership, and other strategic sites. At the time, the Taliban publicly condemned the Israeli operations.

Separately, Afghanistan’s Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqoob said the country would not allow its territory to be used to launch attacks against any neighboring state. In press remarks, Yaqoob stated that Afghanistan “poses no threat to any party” and that authorities would not permit Afghan soil to be used to harm others. He added that “the current system in Afghanistan is not subject to the dictates of any country.”

The statements reflect the complex relationship between Tehran and Kabul. Although tensions have historically existed between the Shia-led Islamic Republic of Iran and the Sunni Taliban movement, the two governments have expanded cooperation since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021.

In January 2025, Taliban Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi hosted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Kabul to discuss border security, water resources, and Afghan migrants. Araghchi also met with the head of the Taliban government during the visit.

The Taliban’s message combines rhetorical backing for Iran with an effort to avoid direct entanglement in a potential confrontation. The situation remains hypothetical, but Kabul has made clear where its sympathies lie.