TEHRAN (FNA)- Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta said that his country welcomes Iran’s wider role in regional policies.

“We are much eager to see a more active role by Iran in regional policies,” Spanta who participated in the ministerial meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), told FNA Monday night.
Spanta also described Iran as a great country in the region which has vast economic resources and a powerful government, reiterating, “The Islamic Republic of Iran is Afghanistan’s neighbor and friend.”
He reiterated his country’s call for Iran’s more active role in regional policies, proportionate to its economic and political possibilities and human resources and capabilities.
The ECO ministerial council on Monday was wrapped up with 3 cooperation documents on Islamic Development Bank and ECO, business visa facilitation protocol and scientific and standard cooperation.
Spanta also confirmed that three rounds of trilateral talks will be held in Tehran on Wednesday between Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
Asked if he has conveyed a message to Iran to invite Tehran to the G8 meeting in Rome, the Afghan foreign minister answered, “There were no talks about this issue, but if Iranian officials are eager to participate in the forum, we will appreciate it.”
In a clear indication of shift in Washington’s policy on Iran under the new U.S. administration, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in Brussels that Iran would be invited to attend a high-level conference on Afghanistan at the end of the month.
“There are a lot of reasons why Iran would be interested,” she said. “So they will be invited. Obviously it is up to them to decide whether to come.”