Afghan president Hamid Karzai said today his office receives cash in bags from Iran but described it is a transparent form of aid that helps cover expenses at the presidential palace.
He said the United States makes similar payments.
The comments came after a report yesterday that Mr Karzai's chief of staff, Omar Dawoodzai, receives covert bagfuls of money - possibly as much as $6 million in a single payment - from neighbouring Iran in a bid to secure influence and loyalty.
The New York Times, citing an unnamed Afghan official, said that millions of dollars in cash channelled from Iran have been used to pay Afghan lawmakers, tribal elders and Taliban commanders.
Mr Karzai said he gets money from several "friendly countries" but named only the United States and Iran, the latter of which contributes up to €700,000 twice a year.
And he would continue to ask for Iranian money, he added.
"The government of Iran assists (my) office with five or six or seven hundred thousand euros once or twice a year which is official aid," Mr Karzai told reporters at a joint press conference in Kabul with visiting Tajik President Imomali Rakhmon.
"This is transparent, this is something that I have discussed even with (former) president George (W.) Bush, nothing is hidden, the United States is doing the same thing...it does give bags of money, yes, it's all the same."
Mr Karzai said the money went on palace expenses, salaries and to "people outside", but gave no further details.
"Cash payments are done by various friendly countries to help the presidential office to help expenses in various ways to help the employees around here, and people outside," he said.
"We will continue to ask for cash from Iran."
Reuters