Tel Aviv, Israel – Israel’s Channel 14 revealed the existence of a secret “shadow network” linking high-ranking officials in Tehran to the Taliban in Afghanistan.
According to the report, the network’s primary objective is to establish a safe passage for smuggling Iranian regime leaders and their funds to Kabul. This would be implemented should the regime face a genuine threat or internal collapse.
Channel 14 reported that Mohammad Ebrahim Taherian Fard, an advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and former Iranian ambassador to Ankara, leads this network in collaboration with other figures within the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
The channel quoted Iranian opposition sources as saying that Taherian Fard is one of six Iranian figures accused of involvement in smuggling funds to Hezbollah last January. It also mentioned Kamal al-Din Nabizadeh, an Iranian of Afghan origin and an aide to the commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The channel stated that he is involved in smuggling approximately $700 million out of the country. It also suggested that some of these funds may have reached Russia.
According to the report, the network was established for two main reasons: first, to ensure the availability of an external force that could be called upon should the Iranian regime require military support; and second, to prepare an escape plan for senior leaders in the event of a genuine threat to the regime. The channel added that the network’s activities extended beyond potential evacuation arrangements to include coordination regarding American weapons left behind in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US forces. Furthermore, the network explored oil and gas deals in exchange for cooperation. It indicated that providing a potential safe haven for Iranian leaders in Afghanistan was a top priority in the secret meetings. This was all conducted outside of official diplomatic channels in Tehran. There has been no official comment from either the Iranian side or the Taliban authorities regarding these allegations.
