KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- Iran has a key role in helping to stabilize Afghanistan, the United States' representative to the area said, indicating a shift in Washington's view of Tehran.
The Obama administration has been critical of Iran's suspected aspirations of nuclear weaponry but special envoy Richard Holbrooke's comments Sunday indicate the administration may try to use discussions with Iran about its neighbor as a way to broach a dialogue, The New York Times reported Monday.
"It is absolutely clear that Iran plays an important role in Afghanistan," Holbrooke said on Tolo TV, a private Afghan television network. "They have a legitimate role to play in this region, as do all of Afghanistan's neighbors."
U.S. President Barack Obama has said he would reach out to Iran for direct talks and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran was ready. The two nations haven't spoken directly since the Islamic Revolution in Iran 30 years ago.
Holbrooke didn't discuss allegations that Iran aided Taliban militants in Afghanistan, the Times said. Holbrooke, named Obama's representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, said while he discussed the matter with military officials, "I did not have enough time really to get into the details yet but I will get into it on future trips."
