Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian announced plans to negotiate with the Taliban to secure Iran’s water rights from the Helmand River, a long-standing source of contention between the two countries.
Speaking on Friday night during an interview with Sistan and Baluchestan’s provincial television, Pezeshkian said Iranian teams, including provincial officials and representatives from the Ministry of Energy, have been tasked with addressing the issue through dialogue with Taliban authorities.
“The governor and a team from the Ministry of Energy have been tasked with negotiating with our neighboring and brotherly country, Afghanistan, on this issue,” Pezeshkian said. “We are pursuing solutions through provincial authorities and the Ministry of Energy to address the existing challenges.”
Iran’s claim to water from the Helmand River is based on a 1972 treaty signed between the Afghan government, led by Mohammad Zahir Shah, and Iran. The treaty specifies the volume of water Iran should receive annually.
Since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, they have repeatedly stated their commitment to honoring the agreement. However, Iranian officials contend that the promised volume of water has not consistently reached their territory, exacerbating water scarcity in regions like Sistan and Baluchestan.
Negotiations between Iran and the Taliban aim to resolve the dispute and ensure compliance with the treaty, as both nations grapple with the broader implications of water resource management amid climate change and regional tensions.
