Iran Press/ Iran news: Hossein Amir-Abbdollahian's visit comes as a dispute continues with neighboring Afghanistan over the Iranian share of the water from the river known as Hirmand in Iran.
Amir-Abdollahian is accompanied by a number of foreign ministry officials as well as Iran’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan Hassan Kazemi Qomi.
The foreign minister held talks with officials in Sistan and Baluchistan Province over Iran’s water rights. The southeastern province is home to Lake Hamun on the Iran-Afghanistan border, which the Helmand River runs into.
On Wednesday, the top Iranian diplomat discussed the issue with Afghanistan’s Caretaker Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on the phone.
Amir-Abdollahian said that releasing Iran’s share of the water from the Helmand River is a “serious demand” of Tehran that could affect bilateral ties.
He also stressed the need to fully implement a 1973 water-sharing bilateral treaty under which Iran is entitled to receive 820 million cubic meters of water from Helmand each year.
The treaty has never been fully implemented partly because of decades-long instability in Afghanistan.
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Iran seeks to secure its water right from Hirmand: Mehrabian
Iran seeks to secure its water right from Hirmand: Mehrabian
