News in Brief
Taliban allow Iran experts to visit Kajaki Dam
IFP – The caretaker of Iran’s Embassy in Kabul announced that the Taliban have granted permission for a team of Iranian experts to inspect the reservoir of the Kajaki Dam, amid a water dispute between Iran and Afghanistan.
“Agreements have been reached so that our experts can go visit the region [where Kajaki Dam is located] and pave the way for the release of water,” said Hassan Kazemi Qomi.
Blinken denies prisoner swap deal with Iran
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken rejected reports on Friday that Washington and Tehran were close to making a deal on swapping prisoners or nuclear matters.
“We haven’t taken any option off the table, but there is no agreement, and reports to the contrary are simply inaccurate,” he said in a press conference.
He stressed that Washington continues to work intensely on a regular basis on both matters.
Situation at Afghanistan border normal: Minister
TASNIM – Calm has returned to the common border between Iran and Afghanistan after a recent brief armed clash, Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said, noting that cross-border travels are taking place normally.
Vahidi said the rulers of Afghanistan have been reminded that they must inform their forces about the rules at the border and take care of their activities, stressing that the Iranian border guards are protecting the national interests vigorously and won’t allow anybody to violate the territorial integrity of Iran.