KABUL, Afghanistan — President Hamid Karzai acknowledged Monday that his chief of staff had taken money from the Iranian government, confirming a report in The New York Times. He said the cash was used to pay for presidential expenses.
His government will continue to receive the payments, which amount to no more than about $1 million twice a year, he said at a news conference with the visiting president of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmonov, adding that the money is part of a relationship between neighbors.
“They have asked for good relations in return, and for lots of other things in return,” said Mr. Karzai of the Iranians.
“And we have also asked for lots of things in return in this relationship. This is a relationship between neighbors, and it will go on and we will continue to ask for cash help from Iran.”
“This is transparent,” Mr. Karzai said, maintaining that the United States had long been well aware of the Iranian money. “This is something that I’ve even discussed while I was at Camp David with President Bush."