Ismail Baghaei, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, says Iran’s water rights from Afghanistan are among Tehran’s top priorities and constitute one of the “constant, vital and strategic” issues in its relations with the Taliban. He said the issue is raised during all diplomatic meetings and contacts between the two sides.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, 19 Asad, Baghaei said that water is not merely a technical issue for the Islamic Republic of Iran, but a “destiny-defining” matter that remains continuously on the agenda of the country’s diplomatic apparatus. He stressed that Tehran is pursuing the issue seriously.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson added that pursuing Iran’s water rights from Afghanistan remains at the top of Tehran’s strategic priorities and is being consistently addressed in negotiations and diplomatic exchanges between the two sides. He said consultations on the issue are ongoing.
Baghaei also reported “tangible progress” toward securing Iran’s water rights during the current water year, saying that technical and political consultations between the two countries are continuing to ensure the full implementation of water-related commitments. He provided no further details on the extent or specifics of this progress.
The dispute over Iran’s water rights from the Helmand River has in recent years become one of the key issues between Afghanistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iranian officials have repeatedly called for the full implementation of the water treaty between the two countries. Taliban officials, meanwhile, have cited water shortages and drought as major factors behind the reduced flow of water toward Iran.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
