Taliban diverts Helmand River water again, satellite images show

The Taliban has diverted water from the Helmand River (known as Hirmand in Iran) despite previous promises to release Iran’s share, according to satellite images cited by Tehran-based Shargh newspaper.

The images show that Afghanistan is diverting the water into its Godarzeh salt flat instead.

The move exacerbates severe drought conditions in southeastern Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan province, a region heavily reliant on the Hirmand.

The Taliban's repeated obstruction of Iran's water access since 2021 has become a major point of contention between the two nations.

The report comes amid escalating tensions over the construction of dams on transboundary rivers, which has significantly reduced water flow to Iran’s drought-stricken eastern provinces.

In January, a member of Iran’s Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Committee said the Taliban’s governance in Afghanistan has hindered regional cooperation on critical issues like shared water resources.