Iran plans to dedicate more efforts to the strained peace process in Afghanistan following the recent contacts with Tehran by rival Afghan groups, Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said on December 28.

According to a statement quoted by the Islamic Republic News Agency on Wednesday, Kharrazi said Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has instructed the foreign ministry to come up with necessary plans in order to solve the Afghan crisis.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry plans to take action in line with Khatami's instructions by contacting the belligerent parties in Afghanistan, its neighboring countries, the United Nations, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and other interested countries, Kharrazi said.

He said Tehran made the decision in line with the proposals raised by Pakistani and Afghan officials, OIC Secretary General Ezeddine Laraki.

Pakistani Chief Executive visited Tehran earlier this month, assuring cooperation with Iran in the Afghan peace process. Musharraf was followed by Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani, whose government was ousted by the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban militia.

Meanwhile, Taliban Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Motawakil sent a letter to Kharrazi recently, voicing Taliban's readiness to talk with Iran to remove any "misunderstandings" between the two sides.

The Iranian foreign minister noted that the situation in Afghanistan is worrisome and every day sad news on poverty and bloodshed comes from the war-torn country.

President Khatami, as OIC chairman, expressed great concern over the situation in Afghanistan and underlined the necessity to see into the unpleasant situation of the people!!in Afghanistan and to cure some of the pains and sufferings experienced by the Afghan people during the past 20 years, he said.

Kharrazi expressed hope that with sincere efforts and cooperation of all concerned parties, peace, stability, security and prosperity will be established.