Killing Soleimani was a punch in Iran’s mouth - Incoming national security adviser

“The most significant issue we have faced during the Taliban's rule has been about water rights and adherence to legal matters, rules, contracts, and treaties previously established with Afghanistan, which unfortunately have not been respected,” Fada-Hossein Maleki told ILNA on Sunday.

The comment 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. The Pashdan Dam on the Harirud River, recently completed by Afghanistan, is the latest flashpoint in a long-standing dispute over water rights.

Maleki further criticized the absence of mutual cooperation under Taliban leadership, observing that the group's governance structure lacks the mechanisms seen in previous Afghan administrations, which allowed for regional collaboration on shared resources.

Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry, underscored the importance of cooperation as well.

“Afghanistan is expected to cooperate in keeping the flow of water and removing the obstacles that have been created,” he said on Thursday, pointing to violations of the 1973 Helmand River Water Treaty.

The dispute over water rights is also critical for Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province, which depends on the Helmand River to sustain its wetlands, including the Hamoun Lake.

Once lush and teeming with life, the wetlands are now largely barren due to water scarcity exacerbated by upstream dams.

Hossein Sargazi, Deputy for Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Sistan and Baluchestan, warned about the worsening conditions: “All these measures threaten the inflow of water to eastern Iran. The situation in Sistan and Baluchestan has become very dire, and with the dust storms, the conditions are worsening.”

Sargazi also highlighted Afghanistan’s strategic use of water as a geopolitical tool. “The Taliban is seeking to establish hegemony through water. They want to claim control over mines, land, forests, and water, and thus require negotiation,” he said.

Afghanistan’s water management projects have drawn interest from foreign investors, complicating the situation further. Sargazi pointed to the involvement of nations like China and Turkey, which are leveraging the water sector to secure strategic footholds. The Pashdan Dam itself was constructedwith assistance from an Azerbaijani firm, showing the international dimension of the issue.

Iran has long struggled with securing its water rights from Afghanistan. In 1999, the Taliban halted the flow of the Helmand River entirely, leading to environmental and economic repercussions for Iran. While the 1973 treaty guarantees Iran a share of the water, enforcement has been inconsistent, often leaving Iran’s eastern provinces in crisis.

Recent diplomatic efforts have done little to resolve the matter, and officials fear that ongoing dam construction could trigger a deeper crisis in a region already grappling with climate change and drought.

Pirhossein Kolivand added that 1,260 surgeries were performed with an 85% success rate.

The Israeli operation targeted thousands of pagers and hundreds of walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members in Lebanon and Syria, killing at least 32 people and injuring over 3,250.

In Kermanshah, retirees from the Social Security Organization (SSO), a social insurance organization in Iran, along with civil service, telecommunications, and education sectors, gathered outside the Department of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare. They demanded higher pensions to address rising inflation and living costs.

In Ahvaz, steelworkers marched outside the governor's office and municipality, protesting delayed salaries and alleged mismanagement in their workplaces.

In Isfahan, central Iran, steel industry retirees also staged protests, urging authorities to address their demands for overdue payments and improved working conditions.

Labor protests in Iran, fueled by economic hardship, are taking on a more political dimension, with some protesters accusing the government of neglecting domestic economic problems in favor of supporting Tehran-backed armed groups abroad.

“Diplomacy moves in tandem with the battlefield, complementing each other,” Araghchi said. “The battlefield paves the way for diplomacy, and diplomacy turns the achievements of the battlefield into national security, national interests, national pride, and national dignity.”

Referring to Iran’s approach as the “diplomacy of resistance,” he insisted that military and diplomatic efforts must move forward together to secure the country’s objectives.

Araqchi, without mentioning the developments in Syria and the fall of Bashar al-Assad, said: "The enemies think that if they inflict damage on the Axis of Resistance, it will be a victory for them. They must know that this marks the beginning of their defeat."

According to Iran’s Foreign Minister, "What has transpired over the past few months for the region, the Resistance, and Iran was a renewed manifestation of the complete coordination between the field and diplomacy."

The Islamic Republic’s officials’ reference to the battlefield and the Axis of Resistance pertains to the presence of Iran’s proxy forces in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen.

Araghchi expanded on these themes during his recent interview with China’s state-run CCTV, aired Saturday. Addressing the prospect of further Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, he struck a defiant tone.

“We are fully prepared for the possibility of further Israeli attacks,” he said. “I hope Israel will refrain from taking such reckless action, as it could lead to a large-scale war.”

Amid speculation that Israel may escalate its response to ballistic missile and drone attacks by Iran's allies, Araghchi cautioned against the potential consequences of such actions. However, he underscored Iran’s preference for diplomacy, highlighting the importance of reason in preventing conflict. “We believe that reason will ultimately prevail and prevent actions that could have serious consequences,” he told the broadcaster.

The interview, conducted during Araghchi’s late-December visit to Beijing, also highlighted Iran’s efforts to strengthen ties with China. Araghchi discussed regional security and the nuclear deal, reaffirming Tehran’s interest in fostering international alliances to counter US sanctions and Israeli military actions.

Araghchi’s remarks come amid increasing geopolitical and economic pressures on Iran. Israeli airstrikes have repeatedly targeted Iranian-backed forces in Syria, while ballistic missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels—armed by Tehran—have added to regional instability.

At the same time, Iran faces internal criticism over its setbacks in Syria and the broader region.

It seems Iran’s rhetoric of resistance aims to project strength even as its regional position has weakened. By tying military successes to diplomatic gains, Tehran seeks to sustain its influence in Syria and counter perceptions of weakness.

Araghchi’s remarks also reflect Iran’s broader narrative of perseverance. Whether through alliances with powers like China or the fusion of battlefield and diplomatic strategies, Tehran appears determined to adapt to shifting regional dynamics without conceding defeat.

Turkey’s decision to revoke fuel tax exemptions for Iranian vehicles, effective December 29, has left hundreds of Iranian trucks stranded at border crossings, sparking outcry among drivers and escalating tensions between the two regional powers.

Turkey recently introduced a policy requiring Iranian trucks to pay a fuel tax equivalent to 155% of its special consumption tax. The Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet reported that the tax “applies to all commercial vehicles with Iranian license plates, excluding buses.”

Hundreds of Iranian trucks cross into Turkey on weekly basis as their main transit route to European countries.

Turkish officials argue that the measure is a response to Iran’s Full Tank Plan, which mandates foreign trucks transiting Iran to pay a fuel surcharge for using Iran's extremely cheap diesel. Fuel in Iran is almost 20-fold cheaper than in other regional countries, because the government subsidizes gasoline and diesel. In addition to the subsidized fuel, Iran's rial has dropped to historic lows against foreign currencies, making fuel even cheaper for Turkish truckers.

Now, Iran has retaliated by halting fuel supplies to Turkish trucks as of January 3. The move has caused widespread disruptions, with Turkish drivers protesting what they see as unjust penalties.

Iranian truck drivers are also affected. Drivers report paying penalties of up to 27 liras per liter of diesel under Turkey’s new regulations.

One Iranian driver told Iran International that he earned 1.7 billion rials (over $2100) for transporting a load across Turkey, but incurred 2.7 billion rials (around $3400) in costs due to the new Turkish tax.

Economic and geopolitical implications

The trade dispute is compounded by the broader geopolitical rivalry between the two nations. Despite ambitious goals to increase annual bilateral trade to $30 billion, trade volume has remained at around $7.5–10 billion, reflecting persistent tensions.

These economic pressures mirror political divisions. Turkey's support for Syrian opposition groups and its backing of efforts to oust Bashar al-Assad stand in stark contrast to Iran’s investments in propping up Assad’s government. Recent Turkish gains in northern Syria have drawn criticism from Iran, with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei accusing unnamed neighbors of pursuing territorial ambitions in the region.

This trade dispute is not an isolated event but part of a broader pattern of actions perceived as hostile to Iranian trade. Turkey’s ally Azerbaijan recently blocked Iranian trucks from transiting through a key route, further restricting Iran’s access to European markets.

The escalating conflict has disrupted vital trade networks and exacerbated economic challenges for both nations. Without resolution, the row could deepen political and economic divides, setting a concerning precedent for regional trade and stability.