In an interview with the Fars news agency, the Iranian Foreign Minister made a statement regarding the recent developments between Iran and the Taliban. Abdullahiyan expressed that Iran’s ambassador to Afghanistan had engaged in negotiations with the Taliban and they expected positive results. He stated that Iran would pursue its water rights through political and legal means and would disclose the details of the talks with the Taliban to the public later. He also emphasized that they were aware of the situation in Afghanistan.
Recently, Iran’s Baluchistan region has been facing a water shortage crisis. The drying up of the river has posed a threat to the Hamun Lake, where the Helmand River flows into.
During protest demonstrations, the Iranian people demanded that Iranian authorities take a stance against the Taliban to ensure Iran’s share of water reaches the country’s territories.
Iran’s President, Ebrahim Raisi, threatened the Taliban, stating, “I am telling the leaders in Afghanistan not to take our demands lightly. They need to engage with us seriously. I warn the officials and leaders in Afghanistan to swiftly address the demands of the citizens in the Sistan and Baluchistan region.”
In a statement issued by the Taliban government, they said, “The water agreement between Iran and Afghanistan has been in place since 1972, and the Islamic Emirate is committed to its obligations. In recent years, Afghanistan and the region have experienced drought, which has affected water levels. The Helmand River has also been affected. Iran’s demands regarding water and the inappropriate statements in the media will only bring harm.”
In recent days, armed clashes between Taliban and Iranian soldiers have occurred along the Afghanistan-Iran border due to disagreements over water rights. As a result of the clashes, two Iranian soldiers and one Taliban soldier lost their lives, leading to further tensions in the relations between the two countries.
