Use Supply of Water & Energy Resources As Pressure Tool Against Taliban, Says Iranian MP

Fada Hossein Maliki, the representative of Zahedan in the Iranian parliament, said that the Taliban do not intend to comply with the water rights agreement and that the Islamic Republic should take "reciprocal action".

Maliki, who is also a member of the National Security Commission of the Iranian Parliament, suggested that Iran should use the resources it provides to the provinces of Afghanistan that border with Iran, namely water and electricity, as a pressure tool against the Taliban.

Herat is one of the provinces bordering Iran which uses electricity imported from the country.

Maliki did not refer to the recent statements of the Iranian authorities, who said that the lack of water in Iran is due to the drought in Afghanistan.

According to Asr Iran Daily, Maliki said, "The Taliban did not even allow the Iranian experts. Certainly, the Islamic Republic of Iran will put retaliatory measures on the agenda. Retaliation does not mean war with the Taliban. However, we have to reconsider our relations with them."

Maliki added, "We have different solutions to deal with the Taliban because we provide both water and electricity to our neighbouring provinces in Afghanistan. The Afghan embassy was opened in Iran in a situation where a wave of opposition was formed in the country. We have no choice and we have to implement some options against the Taliban."