Iran Defends Hosting Taliban Opponent Ahmad Massoud at Khamenei's Funeral Despite Taliban Objections

TEHRAN - Iran has defended its decision to invite Ahmad Massoud, leader of Afghanistan's National Resistance Front (NRF), and other Taliban opponents to the official funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, despite objections from the Taliban administration in Kabul .

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Iran defends hosting Taliban opponent Ahmad Massoud at former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's funeral despite Taliban objections.

The video shows Ahmad Massoud exposing links between Afghan Taliban, TTP, and other terrorist networks. pic.twitter.com/s0CT0m12Pk

- Zard si Gana (@ZardSi) July 6, 2026

Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran's former presidential envoy for Afghanistan and a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stated that Tehran's policy is to engage with the people of Afghanistan regardless of which political faction holds power .

"The Afghan people have different representatives. Those currently in power represent only part of the population, while other sections of Afghan society remain outside government," Qomi told IRAF News .

He added that Iran's relationship with the Afghan people is based on shared cultural, historical, religious and moral ties - not purely political considerations - and described the presence of Taliban opponents in Tehran as "a blessing" .

Simultaneous Presence of Rival Camps

On Friday, during the first day of ceremonies honoring Khamenei - who was killed in joint US and Israeli strikes on February 28 - the simultaneous presence of senior Taliban officials and their opponents attracted widespread attention .

A Taliban delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi attended the ceremony . At the same time, an opposition delegation led by Ahmad Massoud and veteran political leader Mohammad Mohaqiq was also present .

Iran's official reception for Massoud and Mohaqiq had already angered many Taliban supporters, with Taliban social media expressing fury over the invitation .

Ahmad Massoud Exposes Taliban-Terror Links

Ahmad Massoud, whose movement is the principal armed opposition to the Taliban, took the opportunity to highlight the militant network's regional entanglements .

Massoud has previously accused the Taliban of sacrificing the Afghan people by providing safe haven to terrorist organizations, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Al-Qaeda, Jaish al-Adl, and Ansarullah of Tajikistan .

"The Taliban have turned Afghanistan into a field of security and geopolitical games by providing safe haven to militant groups," Massoud has stated . He added that the current crisis is the result of the Taliban's reckless conduct and their backing of armed groups, including the TTP which poses a direct threat to Pakistan .

Iran's Nuanced Approach

Political analysts say the simultaneous presence of leaders from both rival Afghan camps highlighted Iran's cautious diplomatic approach toward Afghanistan, nearly five years after the Taliban returned to power .

"Extending a warm welcome to Massoud sends a message that Iran continues to regard the NRF and other traditional Afghan political forces as relevant actors," analysts noted . Maintaining ties with Massoud is also seen as providing Tehran with diplomatic leverage in its dealings with the Taliban .

According to observers, Iran has consistently advocated for a more inclusive political system in Afghanistan that reflects the country's ethnic and political diversity . By engaging with both Taliban officials and opposition leaders, Iran reinforced its position that Afghanistan's stability depends on broader political participation rather than exclusive rule by any single faction .

However, some commentators noted that Iran distinguished between general protocol and official meetings. While both delegations attended the funeral hall, private official meetings were reserved for the Taliban delegation, recognizing their status as the governing power in Afghanistan .