8am: Following the Taliban’s announcement that the construction of the Pashdan Dam in Herat is 80% complete and will soon become operational, a wave of criticism emerged from the Islamic Republic of Iran. Eisa Bozorgzadeh, spokesperson for Iran’s water industry, stated that this dam would severely affect the drinking water supply for millions of Iranians in the city of Mashhad, urging the Taliban to reconsider their decision. Iranian newspapers also adopted a sharp tone. For instance, Farheekhtegan a publication affiliated with Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of Iran’s Parliament featured the headline, “The Taliban’s Obscenity Knows No Bounds” on its front page. Similarly, the Khorasan newspaper displayed the headline, “Taliban Following in Türkiye’s Footsteps,” claiming that the Taliban are drawing inspiration from Türkiye’s dam-building policies against Iran. Additionally, Farheekhtegan highlighted Azerbaijan’s alleged role in constructing the Pashdan Dam. Further fueling the controversy, Abolfazl Zohrevand, a member of Iran’s Parliament and a former ambassador to Afghanistan, strongly criticized the Taliban while pointing to Türkiye and Azerbaijan’s involvement in dam construction. He called for a shift in the Islamic Republic’s approach to dealing with the Taliban regime in Kabul. So far, the Taliban have not responded to the Iranian statements. Click here to read more (external link).
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