McChrystal: Iran supports Taliban

Stanley McChrystal, highest ranked US-General as well as leader of the Nato forces in Afghanistan, told reporters in Kabul on Sunday, that Iran supports the Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.

He said Taliban fighters would be trained in Iran and also be supplied with weapons by their western neighbour. McChrystal spoke of "clear evidence" for this accusation but didn't show any of this evidence to the public. When one month ago McChrystal had talked about Iranian support for Taliban forces he sounded less certain:

Last month, McChrystal said there were indications that Taliban militants were training in Iran, but not very many. He did not, however, suggest any links to Iranian government policy.

- Washington Post, May 31

Iran's government denied the accusation. Although Iran is opposed to the presence of US troops in Afghanistan it has always supported the Northern Alliance in its fight against the Taliban and has good relationships with the government of Hamid Karzai.