since late 2001, the new afghan government under hamid karzai has engaged in cordial relations with both iran and the united states, even as relations between the united states and iran have grown strained due to american objections to iran's nuclear program. iran was an important factor in the overthrow of the taliban and has since helped revive afghanistan's economy and infrastructure. it re-opened the iranian embassy in kabul and its associated consulates in other afghan cities. in the meantime, iran joined the reconstruction of afghanistan. most of its contributions are aimed at developing the afghan shi'a communities, especially the ethnic hazaras and qizilbash. iran also has influence on political parties represented by ethnic tajiks, which includes abdullah abdullah's coalition for change and hope and others. on the contrary, many afghan politicians and experts claim that both iran and pakistan are working to weaken afghanistan.