Iran says President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will visit Afghanistan on Wednesday

Iranian president to visit Afghanistan

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran says President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will visit Afghanistan on Wednesday.

Tuesday’s announcement coincided with a visit to Kandahar by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Gates has accused Tehran of “playing a double game” in Afghanistan by trying to woo the Afghan government and undermining U.S. and NATO efforts by helping the Taliban.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters that “God willing, Ahmadinejad will go to Afghanistan on Wednesday.

Tehran says it supports the Afghan government and denies allegations that it helps the Taliban.