Taliban Not Giving Iran’s Water Share From Hirmand River

The Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, quoted the spokesperson for Iran's water industry on Tuesday, stating that “despite the new water year, no share of the Hirmand River water has been allocated to Iran.”

The river, known as Helmand in Afghanistan, plays a pivotal role in sustaining both Afghanistan and Iran, serving as a critical source for agriculture and drinking water. Yet, it has remained a persistent cause of tension between the two countries.

Over time, Iran has accused Afghanistan of impeding the river's water flow through the construction of dams, an allegation vehemently denied by Afghan authorities. The Iranian government and environmentalists contend that building dams on the river exacerbates issues in Iran's eastern regions, particularly in the water-scarce Sistan-Baluchestan province.

The issue of Iran obtaining its share of the water has been a long-standing dispute between the Islamic Republic and the Afghan government. However, these disagreements intensified with the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan, leading to recent disputes between the two countries' authorities.

In August, the CEO of Iran's Water Resources Management Company, mentioned the technical team's trip to Afghanistan to negotiate water rights. He alleged that the Taliban in Afghanistan did not grant permission for the Iranian technical team to inspect the Kajaki Dam reservoir.

While many activists and even some media outlets have criticized the Islamic Republic for what they perceive as shortcomings in addressing this issue, the water crisis in Sistan and Baluchestan continues.