RASC News Agency: Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani, a member of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, has accused the Taliban of failing to honor Afghanistan’s prior water-sharing agreements with Iran. Speaking to an Iranian media outlet on Sunday, January 12, 2025, Ardestani underscored, “Water rights are not given; they must be taken.” He criticized the Taliban for their lack of commitment to diplomatic and bilateral relations. Ardestani pointed to two key incidents that have strained ties between the Islamic Republic and the Taliban: the first involving the Harirod River, and the second, the drying of the Helmand River due to the Kajaki Dam.
He noted that some neighboring countries view Iran through the prism of American hegemony, further complicating regional dynamics. The MP highlighted that the ongoing geopolitical rivalry between Tehran and Washington has adversely influenced Iran’s regional strategies. Meanwhile, Taliban officials have insisted that the water rights issue with Iran has been resolved. However, despite the relatively cordial relations between Tehran and the Taliban since the group’s return to power, disputes over water-sharing rights have frequently led to verbal skirmishes between the two sides.
Ardestani explicitly stated that the Taliban perceive Iran through the same lens as they view the United States, exacerbating tensions. He criticized Iranian officials for their initial shock and unpreparedness following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, during which they hastily embraced what he described as “ethnic and sectarian terrorism” in the form of the Taliban. He added that Iran later came to realize that the Taliban’s rise is closely tied to global intelligence operations, particularly those orchestrated by the United States.
