Hossein Amirabdollahian had a phone conversation with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban government’s acting foreign minister, on Wednesday, during which he stressed the need for the full implementation of a 1973 water-sharing treaty between the two neighboring countries.
Iran’s top diplomat also proposed in the phone call that a joint technical committee assess the condition of water resources in Afghanistan.
Water rights from Helmand has been at the heart of a long-running water dispute between Tehran and Kabul.
The two sides signed a treaty in 1973, under which Iran is entitled to receive 820 million cubic meters of water from the river each year.
The agreement has never been fully implemented, however, mainly due to decades of conflicts and instability in Afghanistan, as well as its excessive irrigation and dam construction.
During the phone call, Amirabdollahian expressed hope that Afghan officials will take necessary measures to settle the dispute, adding that Kabul appeared to be committed to the water treaty.
Muttagi, for his part, reiterated his government's commitment to fulfilling its obligations under the 1973 treaty, and highlighted efforts already underway to resolve the problem.
Amirabdollahian is expected to visit the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan, which shares a border with Afghanistan, to follow up on the issue.
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