UN Asks for Iran’s Help to Resolve Hostage Crisis in Afghanistan

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon in a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki called for Tehran’s assistance to resolve the hostage-taking crisis in Afghanistan. During the phone talk, the Iranian foreign minister voiced deep regret over the killing of the two Korean nationals by the Taliban forces in Afghanistan, and further condemned such inhuman and terrorist actions, a statement released by the Foreign Ministry’s Information and Press Bureau reported.

Mottaki expressed sympathy for the victims’ families, and hoped that the hostage crisis in Afghanistan would be immediately ended.

For his part, the UN chief appreciated Mottaki’s sympathy and concern, and called for Iran’s assistance in solving the issue of the Korean hostages in Afghanistan.

“Considering Iran’s influence in Afghanistan, we hope that your country can help settle the issue,” Ban Ki Moon said.

He also said that the UN is making utmost efforts to use all the existing potentials and possibilities to end the crisis and pave the way for the release of the hostages.

In response, Mottaki stressed Iran’s full preparedness to cooperate with the Untied Nations and the Islamic government of Afghanistan to resolve the problem.