Iran unhappy with amount of water released by Afghanistan: Official
An Iranian energy ministry official says the ruling Taliban group in Afghanistan have failed to release enough water from a major dam on the Helmand River to comply with terms of a treaty that dates back to nearly five decades ago.
Jabbar Vatan Fada, who serves as head of Iranian Energy Ministry’s Office for Border Rivers and Joint Water Resources, said on Sunday that water released from Kamal Khan Dam in Afghanistan has not reached Iran because a bulk of the water is draining into Godzareh, an inland basin near the Iranian border in southern Afghanistan.
Vatan Fada told the IRIB News that Taliban officials have declared they need to dredge parts of Helmand to facilitate the flow of water into Iran.
He said that Afghan authorities had promised to Iranian Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian in a phone call on Sunday that they will soon fix the problem.
The announcement comes nearly a month after the Taliban said that it had released water from Kamal Khan Dam for a first time in years.
Iranian officials said at the time that the water released by the Taliban was aimed at Iran despite claims in Afghanistan that the decision had been made to benefit farmers in the country.
Iran is entitled to over 800 million cubic meters per year of water from Helmad, which is called Hirmand on the Iranian side of the border, based on a landmark treaty signed between the two countries in 1973.
Raeisi attends inauguration of Iran-built mega multipurpose project in Sri Lanka
Iran releases details of confiscated Israeli transit cargo
Opportunities of 25-year partnership for Iran and China
Far-right Israeli minister Ben-Gvir injured
Germany clears pro-Gaza camp as US-style demos spread across Europe
Iran: US lacks competence to comment on human rights, freedom of expression
It could take 14 years to remove debris left by Israel war on Gaza: UN
Iran, China discuss military cooperation
Sanders to Netanyahu: 'Don’t insult American people’s intelligence'
Tehran economic conference: Raeisi hails Iran-Africa expansion of ties
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
