Taliban representatives visited Tehran on Sunday and discussed efforts for peace in Afghanistan, Iranian foreign ministry confirmed Monday.

The talks were held with the knowledge of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and were intended to set parameters for negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government, Bahram Qasemi, a spokesman for Iranian foreign ministry said in a press conference.
“A Taliban delegation was in Tehran yesterday. They had comprehensive negotiations with the Iranian deputy foreign minister,” Qasemi said.
He said that the Taliban met Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister.
According to Qasemi, the sides discussed “security issues aimed at driving the peace process in Afghanistan.”
This is not the first time that Iran holds talks with the Taliban. Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Council confirmed last week in Kabul that such talks have taken place in the past and would continue.
Efforts for peace have accelerated in recent months with the Taliban and the US’s special envoy for Afghanistan reconciliation meeting at least three times.
The Taliban have refused to negotiate with the Afghan government and have cited presence of foreign troops as a main obstacle to peace.
The last US-Taliban meeting was held in mid-December in Abu Dhabi and a next such meeting is expected in Saudi Arabia.