TEHRAN, Iran: Fada Hossein Maleki, a member of Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, has criticized the Taliban for allegedly misrepresenting Afghanistan’s fulfillment of water rights to Iran under the 1973 Helmand River Water Treaty. Maleki claims that the Taliban mistakenly considered recent floodwaters as part of Iran’s agreed-upon water rights.
Maleki clarified that floodwaters do not constitute Iran’s rightful share, as outlined in the treaty. He emphasized that the water reaching Iran was only floodwater and not part of the agreed 820 million cubic meters annually from the Helmand River. This stance was reportedly acknowledged by Iran’s former energy minister.
Maleki expressed concerns over the severe water shortage in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province, urging Iranian authorities to uphold international laws to secure the nation’s water rights. Iran and Afghanistan have long disputed water sharing from the Helmand River, with Iran accusing Afghanistan of restricting water flow by building upstream dams.
The Helmand River is a critical water source that flows from the Hindu Kush mountains through Afghanistan into Iran, supplying water to the arid regions of Sistan and Baluchestan.
