Iran, amongst the first to condemn the September 11th attacks, was also the first major Muslim power to vigorously castigate Washington over its military action in Afghanistan.
On Monday, Iran's Supreme Guide, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, condemned Washington for waging war "on the pretext of [the presence] of a few culprits" in the country. He called the war "a serious threat to peace in the region and, above all, a danger to international peace and stability".
The remarks of the ayatollah, mentor of the dominant conservative clerical faction, were echoed by the reformist President, Mr Mohammad Khatami. "The Afghan nation is oppressed not only by the ignorant [Taliban] rulers who provoke violence and present a foul image of Islam to the world, but also by equally ignorant modern powers who are crushing that nation with heavy air and missile attacks."
In spite of this tough talk, Tehran has opted for a positive stand on non-military aspects of the anti-terror campaign.
Iran has, reportedly, co-operated with Washington's anti-terror drive to the extent of deporting one of the 22 men on the US list of "most wanted terrorists". According to a leading Saudi-owned Arabic daily, Asharq al-Awsat, Tehran expelled Mr Imad Mugniyah, a Lebanese Shia militant allegedly involved in the 1983 car bombing against the US military barracks in Beirut and the 1985 hijacking of a TWA airliner. He is also accused of holding Westerners hostage in the southern suburbs of Beirut during the 1980s. The paper claimed that two other Lebanese on the list had already left Iran.
Yesterday, the Iranian Red Crescent said it was ready to care for 800,000 Afghan refugees on Afghan territory just across the border and would accept one million if international aid was provided.
Iran, host to two million Afghans, insists new refugees should remain on Afghan soil.
Iran has a compelling political interest in the outcome of the conflict in Afghanistan. Shia Tehran has long provided training, funds and weapons to Shia minority Hazara tribal militias belonging to the opposition Northern Alliance.
But the link between Iranians and Afghans is ethnic and linquistic rather than sectarian. Eighty-five per cent of Afghans are of the same ethnic stock as Iranians and speak Indo-Iranian languages.
In spite of its opposition to direct US intervention in Afghanistan, Tehran would like to see the ultra-orthodox Sunni Taliban driven from power as it is both an Islamic aberration and a competitor for the hearts and minds of Central Asian Muslims.