The U.S. State Department has explicitly ruled out cooperation with the Taliban on Afghanistan’s mineral resources, citing the group’s terrorist designation, sanctions regime, and concerns over funding repression. Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s August-September 2026 overtures for U.S. investment in lithium, copper, rare earths, and other deposits—framed as a path to sanctions relief and frozen-asset access—received no positive response. Washington instead continues expanding critical-minerals partnerships with Armenia, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and other suppliers while advancing domestic stockpile initiatives. No bilateral agreement has been signed or announced, and procedural barriers including non-recognition of the Taliban government remain unchanged. These factors underpin trader consensus favoring resolution to “No” by year-end.