Iran Criticizes Taliban’s “Rhetoric” Over Helmand Water Rights
Isa Bozorgzadeh, spokesperson for Iran’s water industry, said Monday, September 29, that Iran received only 119 million cubic meters of its annual 850 million cubic meter water share from the Helmand River last year. He described this as clear negligence by the Taliban in fulfilling their international commitments.
Bozorgzadeh stressed that despite repeated verbal assurances from the Taliban about honoring the 1973 Helmand River Treaty, no sustainable action has been taken to implement the agreement. The treaty, signed between Afghanistan and Iran, has long been a source of dispute between the two countries.
The Iranian official urged the Taliban to revise the structure of the Kamal Khan Dam in Nimroz province and introduce reforms to ensure natural water flow toward Iran. He argued that the current dam setup blocks water from reaching Iran, fueling widespread distrust between the two neighbors.
He added that Iran is ready to engage in technical and engineering cooperation with Afghanistan to manage the Kamal Khan Dam in a way that secures mutual benefits. However, it remains unclear to what extent the Taliban are willing to cooperate on this issue.
