Iran and Taliban seek access to confidential list of British Forces

KABUL: Iran and the Taliban are collaborating to gain access to a confidential list containing the names of British intelligence agents and special forces. The Daily Mail reported that four officials from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) traveled to Kabul, requesting the Taliban to provide this list. The aim is to identify and apprehend MI6 operatives. According to sources, Tehran hopes to leverage the arrest of these operatives as a bargaining chip in nuclear negotiations with the West. An Iranian official told the Telegraph, “The IRGC wants something to use to pressure London before sanctions return.” In return, the Taliban has urged Iran to officially recognize the group. Some Taliban members have mentioned that this request faces opposition within the group’s leadership, but several commanders do not view it as a “bad deal.” British media reports state that this list, referred to as the “kill list,” contains the names of approximately 25,000 Afghan collaborators who worked with British forces, along with details of over 100 senior British intelligence and military personnel. It is reported that in recent days, several Afghans listed have been detained by Iranian border forces. The developments come amid warnings from Britain, France, and Germany, stating that if Iran does not return to nuclear negotiations by the end of the month, economic sanctions imposed prior to 2015 will be reinstated.