KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Alireza Bigdeli has been appointed as Iran’s new ambassador to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, replacing Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iranian media reported on Sunday, November 24.
According to the Tasnim News Agency, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, designated Bigdeli as the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s diplomatic mission in Kabul.
Bigdeli previously held ambassadorial roles in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, and Turkey, as well as serving as Iran’s chargé d’affaires.
Hassan Kazemi Qomi, who took office in December 2022 as ambassador and special representative for Afghan affairs, is a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force, the IRGC’s external operations branch.
Tasnim also reported that the title of the Iranian president’s special envoy for Afghanistan will be removed. Bigdeli, as ambassador, will report directly to the foreign minister.
Amidst the complex dynamics of Iran’s relationship with Afghanistan, Iran continues to seek closer ties with the Taliban regime while advocating for an inclusive political framework in Afghanistan. Security, immigration, and trade remain key pillars of this bilateral relationship.
