Iran Increases Pressure on Taliban to Secure Helmand Water Rights

Kokcha News Agency – Mohammad Javanbakht, Iran’s Deputy Energy Minister for Water Affairs, has expressed strong criticism of the Taliban’s implementation of the Helmand River Treaty, stating that Iran will increase pressure to secure its water rights.

Javanbakht highlighted that the current water year has been the driest in Iran’s history, with severe drought and low rainfall. According to the Helmand Treaty, Afghanistan is obligated to provide Iran with 820 million cubic meters of water annually. However, this year, only about 100 million cubic meters have reached Iran’s Chah Nimeh reservoirs, falling far short of the agreed-upon amount.

Javanbakht emphasized that Iran will continue to pursue its water rights rigorously. This comes after Iran’s Foreign Minister previously cited the Taliban’s failure to meet water commitments as a major challenge in bilateral relations. Some Iranian officials have accused the Taliban of deliberately diverting water to salt marshes to prevent it from reaching Iran.

In response, the Taliban has attributed the reduced water flow to recent droughts, insisting that they remain committed to the water treaty. Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s Foreign Minister, during his visit to Iran, stated that providing water to the thirsty people of Sistan and Baluchestan is both a human and Islamic duty.