TEHRAN Deputy Energy Minister for Water Resources Rasoul Zargar said that the relevant authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran are taking the necessary measures to restart the flow of water of the Hirmand River, which ran dry last year, and that Iran is protesting to the United Nations about Afghanistan's actions through Iran's envoy to the UN. We hope that these measures will have a satisfactory result and help in dealing with the problem.

Zargar added that the drying up of the Hirmand River has created a critical condition and had a negative impact on the life of the residents and agriculture.

Meanwhile, people are expressing the view that steps taken by Iran are insufficient, despite the fact that Afghanistan has been blocking the flow of the river for a long time. No decisive policy has been adopted by the Iranian government.

He said that existing information shows that the most important factor in the drying up of the Hirmand has been the fact that the Taleban are blocking the exits valves of the Kajki Dam. Of course, other climatic conditions have also had an effect.

Zargar said that the critical environmental conditions created by the Hirmand River running dry, especially on the plains and the irreversible damage incurred to the marshes, should be addressed by the international authorities.ywur&RRTDF?A'R x9=9=(E,70x9=9=fect.