Lots of press reports in both Afghan and Iranian outlets about ongoing discussions between NATO and Iran over use of the Iranian port of Chahbahar. From the February 4 Iran News Round Up:

In an article entitled, “Afghanistan: focus point to end U.S.-Iran hostility?,” Hasht-e Sobh discusses whether the start of diplomacy between Washington and Tehran on Afghan affairs could serve as an encouraging step to resolution of deep-rooted tensions between the two adversaries. The author says that the new U.S. administration thinks that working closely with Iran helped stabilize situation in Iraq and, therefore, Obama’s team is trying to replicate this approach in Afghanistan. The writer also argues that the worsening security situation in Pakistan has also contributed to the U.S. and NATO’s rapprochement with Iran and likely use of Iran as an alternative transit route for their military and non-military equipment to Afghanistan. The author concludes that if the security situation continues to deteriorate in Pakistan and if Russia fails to win the trust of America and NATO to provide alternative support to the Afghan mission, the U.S. and NATO will have to seek closer ties and cooperation with Iran, and as a result, try to start resolving their long-standing differences.

Top NATO commander allows use of Iran as transit route. In an article headlined, “Yet another step to isolate Pakistan,” Hasht-e Sobh elaborates:

General John Craddock, the American officer serving as Supreme Allied Commander Europe, has said that NATO will not oppose to Coalition countries using Iran as a transit route. The danger of the Taliban and expansion of Salafi and Wahabbi fundamentalism in Afghanistan, on the one hand, and the rise in cultivation and trafficking of narcotics on the other, are Iran’s biggest concerns. Although Iran is worried about the presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan…, NATO’s efforts to curb terrorism and fundamentalism in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s tribal areas have helped mitigate expansion of the threats to Iran’s eastern borders. Failing to consider other alternative partners such as Iran over the past seven years has given the Pakistani government and army the impression that they could extort money from NATO and America in exchange for its assistance.

In a commentary entitled “Enhanced role of Iran: for interference or participation?,” Hasht-e Sobh expresses doubt over the effectiveness of a fresh plan by the U.S. and NATO to engage Iran in Afghanistan’s stabilization scheme. The paper describes NATO’s decision to seek Iran’s cooperation as “too late.”