Iran has reportedly stepped up its shipments of arms and cash to the Taliban in Afghanistan. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

The Iranian government reportedly has stepped up shipments of weapons and money to the Taliban in Afghanistan in recent months.

According to The Wall Street Journal, which cited Afghan and Western officials in its report, Iran’s motivations for stepping up support for the militants are to prevent the Islamic State from gaining a foothold in Afghanistan and providing a check on U.S. influence ahead of the planned withdrawal of most American troops by the end of 2016.

Read full story at Fox News.