WANA (Jan 06) – A member of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission highlighted the recent dam construction by the Taliban on the shared border river between Iran and Afghanistan. He stated that the Ministries of Energy and Foreign Affairs have been tasked with addressing the issue seriously.

 

Fadahossein Maleki referred to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ emphasis on utilizing all available resources to pursue Iran’s water rights from Afghanistan. He said, “The construction and closure of dams are actions that the Taliban began some time ago, and the Foreign Ministry has recently taken a stance on the matter. In this regard, it was decided that Iran’s ambassador in Afghanistan would engage in discussions with Taliban officials.”

 

The parliamentarian further explained that the Taliban’s efforts to block several dams had faced protests from the Islamic Republic of Iran. Accordingly, the Ministries of Energy and Foreign Affairs were instructed to take serious action on the issue. “Negotiations have begun, and effective measures must be taken,” Maleki added.

 

He also mentioned his discussions with Araghchi, the Foreign Minister, who assured that the matter would be included in the government’s agenda while Parliament continues its follow-up efforts.

 

Maleki concluded by noting the president’s upcoming visit to Sistan and Baluchestan province this weekend. He expressed hope that with recent changes in foreign policy and the appointment of Mr. Beigdel as the acting ambassador to Afghanistan, a new perspective would emerge.

 

Ismail Baghaei, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, recently addressed the issue of Iran’s water rights from Afghanistan and the newly constructed dams on the shared border river. During a press conference, he stated, “The Foreign Ministry, as the country’s diplomatic authority, consistently prioritizes securing Iran’s water rights from shared and border rivers. Regarding Afghanistan and the Harirud River, the matter dates back to the early 2010s. Our objections have been documented, and the issue remains on our permanent agenda.”

 

Baghaei emphasized, “We have consistently stated that the waters flowing from Afghanistan to Iran create legal rights for both sides of the border. We have an agreement in place, and concerning other aspects, we expect Afghan authorities to seriously consider the matter based on customary rights and good neighborly relations.”

 

He added, “We are utilizing all available tools to address this issue. Our embassy is actively engaged, and the acting ambassador is following up on the matter. We expect the Afghan caretaker government to give serious attention to this issue.”