Iranian media quoted the country’s Minister of Energy Ali Akbar Mehrabian as saying that “if the Taliban don’t fulfill their commitment regarding Iran’s water rights, Iran will use legal and lawful means.”

He also stressed that water rights to the Helmand River are a priority of Iran and that the “Taliban officials are making excuses for the existing drought.”

But the Islamic Emirate’s spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said that they are committed to the water rights based on the 1973 pact between the two nations.

“We are in general committed in this regard to Iran based on the 1973 pact. But we have to consider the drought which Afghanistan is going through right now. Not only Iran but the whole region is suffering from drought,” he said.

The analysts said that Iran should be provided with its water rights based on the 1973 pact.

Najibullah Sadid, a water and environment analyst, said that if Afghanistan and Iran don’t reach a breakthrough over the water rights, the case will be submitted to international law.

“This season of the year is the best time to pay Iran’s water rights,” he said.

Earlier, Mehrabian stressed that Tehran will not give up on its water rights from the Helmand river by any means.