We May Lease Part of the Country's Land to Afghanistan

A member of the parliament's National Security Committee, referring to the pre-revolution agreement on Iran's water rights from the Helmand River, said: ‘Unfortunately, a barrier was built in the river's path, and as a result, water was diverted into a swamp instead of flowing into Iran.’

According to Ambassador Arjan, a few days ago, Mohsen Zanganeh, the head of the special commission for supporting production and monitoring the implementation of the general policies of Article 44 of the Constitution, announced on Sahar TV that he was giving good news to the people of Afghanistan for the first time. He clearly emphasized that in the meeting with the appointed Minister of Peace in Chabahar, a region will be allocated to Afghanistan so that they can have their own land. This comment raised many concerns because this is not the first time that the Islamic Republic has given a part of Iran to Afghanistan. Zanganeh's words met with a sharp reaction. Some believed that this was because of the Taliban's entry into Sistan and Baluchistan in order to reduce the tension there, while others believed that we have returned to the Qajar period and incorrectly analyzed the coalition of the Islamic Republic and the Taliban. Leaving these reactions aside, Zanganeh's comment was reminiscent of the construction of a concrete border wall between Iran and Afghanistan. In 1377, a wall was built with the aim of preventing drug and goods smuggling, controlling illegal traffic from the border and strengthening border surveillance and security. It was completed in 1382, but it did not achieve any of its goals and not only imposed a lot of costs on the country, but more than 2 thousand hectares of land of the people of Sistan region were placed behind the wall. Ali Awsat Hashemi, the former governor of Sistan and Baluchistan in 2016, pointed out this gross calculation error and demanded the removal of this wall. But no action was taken to add a part of Iran to the territory of Afghanistan with this wall. In addition, the Islamic Republic was the first government to recognize the Taliban and make them a business partner. However, the Taliban has not yet come to an agreement with the Islamic Republic. Even though they did not give Iran the title of Hirmand and threatened Iran. On May 28, 1402, President Ebrahim Rais warned the Taliban officials about Hirmand's claim to Sistan and Baluchistan and said: "Take my words seriously so you don't complain later." In response to Raisi's words, General Mobeen, one of the famous figures of the Taliban, filled a yellow tank with water and said in a mocking tone to Raisi: "Take this barrel and don't attack us, we are afraid." The Yellow Deba was considered a threat because the Taliban used the Yellow Deba as a container for homemade bombs.

Finally, despite the fact that Zanganeh had clearly said that Afghanistan will have its own land in Chabahar. After severe criticism, he denied handing over 110 hectares of Iranian soil to Afghanistan and called it a lie by the hostile media. This time, he said that the allocation of 110 hectares of land to Afghanistan was for "investment" in Chabahar port, and this does not mean handing over land or the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic.

Iran Watch talked to Mohammad Mahdi Shahriari, representative of Bojnord, Maneh, Samalqan, Jajarm, Garmeh, Raz and Jarglan and a member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission in the 12th Parliament, about having a land belonging to Afghanistan in Chabahar.

You can read the detailed interview of Mohammad Mehdi Shahriari, a member of the National Security Commission of the 12th Parliament, below:

Some of Iran's projects for the reconstruction of Afghanistan are being completed

Mohammad Mehdi Shahriari, a member of the National Security Commission of the Majlis, told Iran Watch about the land connection between Iran and Afghanistan at the time of the economic embargo on Iran: "When Afghanistan was liberated from the Taliban in the previous stage, many international conferences were held, and one of these conferences was in the German city of Bonn." In that conference, different countries made commitments for the reconstruction of Afghanistan. At that time, the Islamic Republic of Iran made a pledge of 200 or 300 million dollars to help Afghanistan. "Iran operationalized these aids in the form of building the railway line from Khaf to Roznak and Herat and spent a lot of money for its construction, and those projects are being completed."

This member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Majlis added: "After the Taliban regained control over Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan provided a lot of aid to this country with great goodwill." Afghanistan's first trading partner was Iran. In these difficult economic conditions, we provided goods needed by Afghanistan, provided fuel and gas, provided electricity and helped them to some extent in the field of transit.

7-8 million Afghan citizens live in Iran

Referring to the pre-revolution agreement for Iran's claim to Lake Hirmand, Shahriari said: "Unfortunately, they created a barrier in the river's path, and because of this, the water was diverted to a swamp instead of entering Iran." They were ready for the water to flow to this swamp located in the north of Pakistan, but not to reach Iran. While seven to eight million Afghan nationals work, live and make a living in Iran. Their children fill our schools and use our subsidized basic goods. However, the Taliban refused to allow the amount of water that Afghan nationals consume in Iran to enter Iran and Hirmand.

No country has recognized the Taliban

Pointing out that we need our neighbors under sanctions, he emphasized: "Nevertheless, you know that the Taliban has not been recognized by any country so far. In my opinion, they need us a hundred times more than we need them. "Pakistan is also involved in issues and disputes, and other countries also have a very strong guard against Afghanistan."

This member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission added: "In my opinion, the issue raised by one of our colleagues in the parliament was wrong. He used the word "land" which, in my opinion, is very strange to propose such an issue. I think Mr. Zanganeh did not explain his meaning fully. Certainly, they did not mean that we want to hand over our land, but rather to rent land, which is a normal thing all over the world.

Stating that many countries take over areas of other countries, without owning them, Shahriari told Iran Watch: "We may give one hundred hectares of land in Chabahar port to the other side for two or five years so that they can import their goods." Afghanistan does not have a sea border, and we can rent a part of the land to them, so that they can transit their goods through Iranian soil, and it will be beneficial for us as well. But this part is given to Afghanistan by the territorial sovereignty of Iran. We have fought with foreigners for tens of years to preserve our land so that not even an inch of our country's soil is lost. Therefore, if we say that a country acquires territory in our soil, it is very strange and unacceptable."

Pointing out that I don't think the minister meant to silence the sovereignty of a part of Iran to Afghanistan, he emphasized: "There have been many reactions to this issue. I saw that Mr. Zanganeh provided a supplementary explanation and said that he did not mean handing over sovereignty. I also think this is what he really meant. It is unlikely that a representative who is somewhat familiar with the issues of citizenship, ownership, governance and territorial sovereignty will want to give even one centimeter of the country's territory to another country."