Islamic Republic Deeply Concerned About Taliban's Water Policy

Esmaeil Baghaei, the spokesman of the Iranian Foreign Ministry called on the Taliban to cooperate in the continuation of the flow of water from Afghanistan to Iran and remove the obstacles created.

Referring to the importance of protecting the environment and observing international law regarding the border rivers between the two countries, Baghaei emphasised that it is necessary to pay attention to these principles.

Baghaei also on Friday expressed concern about the impact of dams under construction in Afghanistan on the amount of water entering Iran.

In frequent talks with the Taliban, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has stressed that the exploitation of water resources should not take place without respecting Iran's rights, bilateral treaties and the principles of good neighbourliness, he said.

Referring to the cultural, religious, ethnic and civilisational ties between Iran and Afghanistan and Iran's hosting of about five million Afghan refugees, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran emphasised that it is necessary to respect mutual interests and avoid unilateral actions.

After the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, Tehran has repeatedly called on the group to restore the flow of water from the Helmand River to Iran, but the Taliban, citing the drought, has claimed that the water has naturally decreased and has not been blocked.

Iran has also recently raised criticisms of the construction of the Pashdan Dam in Herat.

A spokesman for Iran's water industry recently announced that Afghanistan's unilateral exploitation of the Harirud River is a violation of customary law and could harm the basic needs of millions of people, including the supply of water to Mashhad.