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President Raeisi warns Afghanistan over Iran's water share from Hirmand

Thursday, 18 May 2023 9:14 AM [ Last Update: Thursday, 18 May 2023 9:23 AM ]

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raeisi speaks on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of a number of water and electricity projects in Sistan and Baluchestan Province on May 18, 2023. (Photo by president.ir)

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi on Thursday urged the ruling administration in Afghanistan to “swiftly” supply Iran with its share of water from the Hirmand River, also known as Helmand.

Speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of a number of water and electricity projects in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, which borders Afghanistan, President Raeisi warned that Tehran will in no way tolerate a rights violation of the province’s people.

He said the right of the people of Sistan and Baluchestan to Hirmand water has been enshrined in previous treaties, and the issue is not related to a specific period.

“I tell the Afghan rulers not to take my remarks lightly and take them very seriously,” he asserted. “I warn the authorities and rulers of Afghanistan to swiftly fulfill the right of the people of Sistan and Baluchestan Province and the Sistan region.”

“They (Afghan officials) should know that the [Iranian] government is determined to uphold the people’s rights in all fields. It is the right of the province’s people, and we follow it up in all border areas. As the government, we will not allow people’s rights to be violated.”

The Hirmand River, the longest watercourse in Afghanistan, rises in the Hindu Kush Mountains west of Kabul and flows in an arc southwest until it empties out into the Hamoun wetlands, located in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

Following more than a century of rifts over Hirmand’s water supply, Iran and Afghanistan signed a treaty in 1973 to establish a means of regulating each country’s use of the river.

Iran should receive an annual share of 820 million cubic meters from Hirmand under the accord, which Afghanistan has grossly violated in letter and spirit, endangering the lives of many Iranians who rely on Hamoun wetlands for drinking water, agriculture, and fishing.

Afghanistan has also built dams on the Hirmand which have constricted the water flow into Iran.

Amir-Abdollahian visits Sistan and Baluchistan province to discuss Iran-Afghanistan water dispute

The Iranian foreign minister will have a meeting with provincial officials in Sistan and Baluchistan province to discuss water dispute with Afghanistan.

President Raeisi also urged Afghanistan to allow Iranian experts to visit the Kajaki Dam on Hirmand to check claims about mud or a lack of water there.

“The passage of time would not resolve the issue. Of course, we are pursuing the matter through dialogue and diplomacy directed by Iran’s representative in Afghanistan and the governor of Sistan and Baluchestan,” he added.

On Wednesday, Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, held a meeting in the port city of Chabahar aimed at speeding up the process of pursuing the country’s water right from Hirmand.

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