Alwaght- Iran’s foreign, interior, and energy ministries have formed a joint committee to follow up on the issues related to cross-border rivers and the construction of dams in some neighboring countries, the Islamic Republic's foreign minister said on Monday adding that Tehran has held bilateral talks with Turkey, Iraq, and Afghanistan over the issues.
Speaking about the actions taken under the Raeisi administration regarding water diplomacy, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said the Foreign Ministry has formed a committee that has so far convened up to three sessions and coordinated efforts with the Energy Ministry.
“A committee has also been formed between the foreign, interior, and energy ministries to study at the expert level the issues related to cross-border rivers and the construction of dams in some neighboring countries,” the minister added.
Amir-Abdollahian also noted that he held talks with his Turkish counterpart on dams constructed on the Aras River, which he said “could be effective.”
He added that he held a similar meeting with the Iraqi side.
Iran’s top diplomat further said that Tehran also discussed water rights with the interim government in Afghanistan.
According to the minister, a Turkish delegation arrived at the end of the Persian calendar year of 1400, which ended on March 20, and they “designed” a joint committee to follow up on relevant issues.
He added that a similar move was taken regarding water resources shared with Afghanistan and “we have to follow up to reach a result.”
Iran and Afghanistan have renewed efforts to reach a permanent solution on water right from Hirmand, as the river is known on the Iranian side of the border. The two countries commissioned a month-long surveying mission on the river in February 2021 as Iran announced plans for the construction of precise water rights measuring installations on the border.
Iran is entitled to 26 cubic meters per second (850 million cm per year) of water from the Helmand based on a historic treaty signed between the governments of the two countries in 1973. However, the share has dwindled in recent years because of the excessive use of water for irrigation and dam construction in Afghanistan.
