TEHRAN, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Iran condemned on Friday the recent assassination of three senior officials in Afghanistan's Kandahar province.

In an announcement on Friday, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi offered sympathy to the Afghan government and nation as well as the families of the victims over the incident.

At least three senior provincial officials in the southern province of Kandahar were killed on Thursday by one of their own guards during a meeting to discuss security ahead of the nation's parliamentary vote.

The Taliban group claimed the attack, saying their target was Scott Miller, the commander of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, who was unharmed.

Qasemi urged national dialogue to cease violence in Afghanistan, and expressed hope that the Afghan government and its opposition would seriously focus on establishment of peace and security ahead of the parliamentary votes that would start across the country, except for Kandahar, on Saturday.

"Iran strongly supports any initiative that guarantees the interests and benefits of the oppressed people of Afghanistan," Qasemi said.