Zahedan Friday Prayer Leader: Viewing the Taliban Flexibly Is Naive and Wrong
Ayatollah Mostafa Mohami, the Friday prayer leader of Zahedan, said during a meeting of Shia clerics in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province that dams constructed in Afghanistan—such as Kamal Khan and Kajaki—were built with planning by the United States and assistance from Turkey, aiming to block water from reaching Iran.
He added that even the construction materials for these projects were supplied by Iran, but ultimately the Taliban has shown no inclination to transfer water to Iran, and the U.S. would not permit it either. Criticizing those who, in his view, adopt a lenient stance toward the Taliban, he described such an approach as “wrong and naive.”
Mohami stressed that Iran should not rely on receiving water from the Taliban administration and instead must pursue domestic alternatives, including using small wells, water treatment plants, and water transfer projects from the Sea of Oman. He stated that water pathways and dam structures in Afghanistan are deliberately designed to prevent water from flowing into Iran.
He added that some local officials in cities like Saravan, Iranshahr, and Chabahar have also highlighted the ineffectiveness of the dams, saying they have become more of a problem for the local population than a solution to water scarcity. According to him, if Iran stops the outflow of water from its territory into Pakistan, there would be no need to depend on Afghanistan for water.
Ayatollah Mohami also criticized the priorities of the Iranian government, claiming that after a slight improvement in the water situation, policymakers abandoned the Sea of Oman water transfer project and shifted their focus to highways and rail lines. He called the situation concerning and urged more public pressure within Iranian society on the issue of water.
