The Iranian interest section
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The Iranian interest section is the diplomatic arrangement through which John Kiriakou says he obtained permission to travel to Iran, cited on the DeProgram programme in September 2025 as evidence for a general argument about recognition.

The principle

The discussion had turned to Russia's recognition of the Taliban government and whether the United States should follow. Kiriakou's position was that the question is badly framed. "I don't think diplomatic recognition ... should be like one of those things that is a reward or something."

The rule he proposes is universal: relations "with every other country. Period." His reasoning is functional rather than moral, "let the diplomats do what they're paid to do, to carry out diplomacy. We should have relations with everybody. We really should. Everybody that wants relations with us."

The evidence

His argument is that the contacts happen regardless, and only become more awkward. "The truth is, when we need to talk to people, we end up talking to them anyway."

The illustration is his own travel. "Right when I needed a visa to go to Iran, we don't have diplomatic relations, but Iran had an interest section in the Pakistani embassy in Washington, and that's what my fixer went through to get it."

An interest section is the standard device by which a state without relations maintains a consular presence inside a third country's mission; Kiriakou treats it as proof that the severance is nominal.

The conclusion

"So in other words, the US has to talk to Iran sometimes. They have to. But the lack of diplomatic relations just makes it harder for them to do their jobs."

Applied to Afghanistan

Kiriakou extends the same reasoning to a country the United States left entirely. He says Washington "should have recognised the Taliban immediately", and that at a minimum "we should have an embassy open there, even if it's just two or three people. And we should be carrying out diplomacy constantly."

He grounds the practical case in Americans still in the country after the withdrawal, who in the absence of a mission have no consular representation at all.

See also

- The Pezeshkian invitation
- 2026 Iran war
- The Taliban
- John Kiriakou
