Unlike Former Afghan Officials, Taliban Recognises on Iran’s Water Rights, Says Iranian FM

Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Iranian foreign minister announced that diplomatic efforts are underway on the issue of water rights of Iran from the Helmand river. Abdollahian said that unlike previous Afghan officials, the Taliban "recognises and emphasises" on Iran’s water rights.

In an interview with the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Abdollahian added that all options are on the table to get the water rights.

He did not give details about these options, but said that the Iranian president has ordered receiving the water rights of Iran from the Helmand river of Afghanistan.

The Iranian foreign minister said that in his recent meeting with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s foreign minister in Samarkand, he also discussed the issue of water rights of Iran.

Earlier after meeting with Muttaqi in Samarkand, Abdollahian said on Twitter, "We will not fall short of Iran's water rights."

However, the Iranian foreign minister implicitly rejected any pressure on the Taliban by Tehran and said, "We continue our efforts through the diplomatic path."

Previously, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament had said that they consider the water rights issue as a matter of national security.

On February 2022, the Taliban had announced that the group fully accepts Iran's claim of water rights, but despite Iranian official’s repeated statements that the water rights of Iran from the Helmand river have not been given, the Taliban have not reacted so far.