Since the beginning of the current water year (last September) Iran unlike previous years has been receiving its fair share of water from Hirmand (Helmand) River as per an agreement signed with Afghanistan in 1972, the energy minister said.
“As per the treaty, Iran is getting its share that will reach 800 million cubic meters by next September,” Reza Ardakanian was quoted as saying by ILNA on Saturday.
Following regular meetings in Tehran and Kabul since 2005 regarding Iran's water rights from the border river, the Afghan side accepted to pursue its water development projects on the shared basin in a way that will not harm Iran’s water share.
“Construction plans on the river should not restrict Iran's share of the joint basin under any circumstances,” the minister said.
Iran is saddled with severe water shortages in its southeastern regions bordering Afghanistan. A big part of the problem is linked directly Kabul respecting the 1972 agreement in the breach.
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