Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast has confirmed reports about the abduction of Iranian engineers in Afghanistan, saying Tehran is seriously pursuing the case

Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast has confirmed reports about the abduction of Iranian engineers in Afghanistan, saying Tehran is seriously pursuing the case.

According to Press TV, Mehmanparast told reporters at his weekly press conference on Tuesday “Iran is firmly following up the case from the Afghan government.” He added that the Afghan government carries great responsibility to provide Iranian nationals with security and pointed out that the Iranian engineers were in Afghanistan to carry out a construction project.

The Iranian spokesman noted “They were kidnapped along with a number of Afghan nationals.”

“Immediately after the release of the reports, Iran's Foreign Ministry took necessary measures through the Islamic Republic's embassy in Kabul and Afghanistan's embassy in Tehran,” he said.

Mehmanparast explained that Iran's Foreign Ministry held contacts with Afghan officials and border forces who said the kidnapped engineers were in healthy condition.

On Monday, armed men kidnapped seven Iranian engineers in the Western Afghan city of Farah, which borders Iran, as insecurity continues in the war-torn country despite the long-term US-led military presence.