RASC News Agency: Fada Hossein Maleki, a former member of the Iranian Parliament, speaking at a session of the Supreme National Security Council chaired by President Masoud Pezeshkian, called for a “serious reassessment” of Iran’s relationship with the Taliban. Maleki emphasized, “The Taliban has not only failed to honor Iran’s water rights from the Helmand River, but this issue has also intensified severe droughts, creating significant challenges for the people in the region. Therefore, it is crucial to undertake a serious reconsideration of relations with the rulers of Afghanistan (the Taliban).”
Meanwhile, the Iranian news outlet “IRAF” reported that Maleki’s actions during his tenure as ambassador to Kabul have contributed to the current problems. The report also noted that while floods have reached the Helmand River due to heavy rainfall in Afghanistan, the promised water allocation has yet to be provided. Maleki further stressed that certain factions within the Iranian government are actively seeking to “rehabilitate” the Taliban’s image. Notably, Kazemi Qomi is regarded as one of the most influential Taliban lobbyists within the Iranian administration. Several key political figures in Iran, particularly within the fundamentalist bloc that wields substantial power in the Islamic Republic, have expressed support for the Taliban.
These figures argue that the Taliban’s defeat of the United States positions them as a potential ally under the notion that “the enemy of our enemy is our friend.” However, they fail to recognize that the U.S. facilitated the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan through a covert intelligence agreement and continues to provide the group with $40 million per week.
