[caption id="attachment_153058" align="alignright" width="195"] A terrorist detonates his explosive-laden car near the Iranian Embassy in the Afghan capital, Kabul, February 26, 2015.[/caption]
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- A suicide bomber driving a car packed with explosives targeted a Turkish Embassy vehicle near the Iranian Embassy in the Afghan capital during the Thursday morning rush hour.


"The target was a Turkish Embassy vehicle. One person is wounded and the driver possibly killed," Deputy Interior Minister Mohammad Ayub Salangi told media outside the Iranian Embassy.


The blast took place outside the gate of the embassy, which is adjacent to the Turkish mission in the center of Kabul.


The Taliban claimed responsibility for the blast in a text message to media, saying the target was a "convoy of foreigners' vehicles."


Associated Press television footage showed two black armored vehicles bearing Turkish diplomatic plates and at least one wounded person being carried from a car.


It is the first known attack on a Turkish target in the Afghan capital. The last similar suicide car bomb attack in Kabul took place near the airport in January.


Insurgent attacks in the capital have been intermittent in recent months as winter has closed in, limiting access for militants who are believed to be based across the mountainous border in Pakistan.


The Afghan government hopes to open a dialogue with the Taliban's leadership in the near future, which could lead to peace talks in the coming year or two, officials and diplomats have said.


In the meantime, the insurgents are expected to intensify their attacks in order to enter any talks from a position of strength.


By The Associated Press