Once foes, the Taliban and Iran are mending ties, suggesting Iran wants to have a role in Afghanistan after U.S. troops leave, according to the Washington Post.

Iran hosted a delegation of Taliban members in Tehran this month, a possible sign that Iran believes the Taliban will be a major power in Afghanistan after U.S. combat troops leave the country in 2014, the newspaper reported on Thursday.

The Islamic Awakening conference was organized by Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who trumps Iran elected leaders on policies.

Iranian officials had hoped to arrange a meeting between Taliban delegates and the former head of Afghanistan's peace council Burhanuddin Rabbani, but that never happened, according to the newspaper. Rabbani was later assassinated by a suicide bomber in his home.

Read 'Iran’s hosting of Taliban reflects desire for greater role' by the Washington Post.

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