Absence of US forces at Bagram prevented regional conflict, says Iranian envoy

WEB DESK: The Iranian Ambassador to Afghanistan, Alireza Bikdeli, has suggested that the continued absence of United States military forces from Bagram Airbase has played a critical role in keeping Afghanistan insulated from the current wave of regional instability.

Speaking in an interview with Shamshad TV, Mr Bikdeli argued that had American troops maintained or regained a presence at the strategic site, the country would likely have been pulled into the escalating confrontations currently gripping the Middle East.

A strategic buffer

The Ambassador pointed to the shifting dynamics of regional warfare, noting that the presence of US assets often serves as a magnet for hostilities. “If U.S. forces had returned to Bagram, it is possible that today we and you [Afghanistan] would have been involved in a conflict,” he stated.

Mr Bikdeli further commended the “prudence and wisdom” displayed by Afghanistan’s current leadership. He suggested that their refusal to allow a return to foreign military occupation at the base has acted as a safeguard for the nation’s security during a volatile period.

These remarks arrive at a time of heightened friction, following a series of strikes and counter-strikes involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. Tehran has repeatedly cautioned that its military operations are designed to target American bases and personnel across the region, making any active US installation a potential flashpoint for broader engagement.