Afghanistan Blocks Flow of Hirmand River Into Iran

Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian said by building dams on Hirmand River, the eastern neighbor Afghanistan has significantly reduced the volume of water entering Iranian territories in Sistan-Baluchestan Province.
“Over the past year, Afghanistan has blocked the flow of Hirmand water into the country, such that the volume has decreased to 2-3 million cubic meters from 150 mcm,” Ardakanian was quoted as saying by ILNA on Saturday.
Stressing that Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is holding negotiations with Afghan officials, Ardakanian added that Mohammad Javad Zarif has written a formal letter of complaint to the country.
According to the energy minister, Iran received an agreed percentage of the river’s total water based on an accord between the two countries in the past. Reportedly, in 1972, Iran and Afghanistan signed an agreement concerning Hirmand water, which was to the huge disadvantage of Iran and reduced its water right to less than 10%.