Afghanistan’s Pretexts to Ignore Iran’s Water Rights Unacceptable

Despite the claim of Afghan water officials, Iran has received less than 3 million cubic meters of water from Hirmand (known as Helmand in Afghanistan) River since the beginning of the current water year (Sept. 22, 2021), which is not acceptable. 
Firouz Qasemzadeh, director general of the National Water Data, made the above complaint in the 25th meeting of the Joint Committee of Hirmand Water Commissioners held in Tehran last Friday.
Afghan officials argued that based on the agreement Iran signed with Afghanistan in 1973, close to 30 mcm of water have been released since last September, he added, stressing that barely 3 mcm entered Iran during the period.
Qasemzadeh noted that the Taliban are blaming the drought in Afghanistan and the long distance that the water has to pass through before it reaches Iran, both of which are lame excuses.