The Taliban and Iranian forces exchanged heavy gunfire on the Afghan border on Saturday (May 27), killing and wounding troops, escalating tension between Kabul and Tehran amid a dispute over water rights.

The Taliban and Iranian forces exchanged heavy gunfire on the Afghan border on Saturday (May 27), killing and wounding troops, escalating tension between Kabul and Tehran amid a dispute over water rights. According to the IRNA news agency, Iran's Deputy Police Chief Gen. Qassem Rezaei accused the Taliban of opening fire on the border of Iran's Sistan and Balochistan provinces and the Afghan province of Nimroz. Citing Iranian police, the IRNA said that two border guards were killed. The agency further added the Milak border crossing with Afghanistan, a major trade route, was closed until further notice. ALSO READ | Iran's water right issue: Tehran gives Afghanistan one month to resolve problem, says report Iran’s police chief Gen. Ahmadreza Radan warned that Iran's border forces would decisively respond to any border trespassing and aggression and that "current authorities of Afghanistan" must be held accountable for their unmeasured and contrary actions to international principles. Afghanistan accuses Iran of shooting first The Taliban-led Afghanistan administration accused Iran of shooting first. Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Nafi Takor said Saturday's fighting killed two people, one each from Afghanistan and Iran, and wounded others. Afghan Defence Ministry spokesperson Enayatullah Khawarazmi said that the Taliban considered dialogue to be a reasonable way for any problem, adding, "Making excuses for war and negative actions is not in the interest of any of the parties." Saturday's fighting comes after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi earlier this month warned Afghanistan not to violate Tehran's water rights to the Helmand River. The right to water from the river recently became a controversial issue between the two countries. Raisi said the Taliban should ensure that Tehran's water rights of the river were based on international treaties. On Thursday, President Raisi said that the Taliban should immediately provide Iran with its share of water. Earlier on Saturday, the Taliban’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with an Iranian envoy to Afghanistan to discuss the Helmand River water rights. The news agency IRNA acknowledged the meeting saying “that issues between the two countries will be better resolved through dialogue.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Taliban, Iran exchange heavy gunfire on Afghan border; water rights issue escalates

After the rise in&nbsp;tensions over Iran's water rights from the Helmand River in recent days, Tehran has now said that Taliban-ruled Afghanistan should clarify the issue of Iran's water rights within a month. According to a report by Tolo News on Saturday (May 20), Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran's ambassador to Afghanistan, told Iranian media that if the Taliban want&nbsp;Kabul to move towards peace and stability, it should have constructive interaction with its neighbours.&nbsp;

“If there was water and the Taliban did not provide it to the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, then it is clear how it should act on this issue, which is one of the basic rights of the Iranian nation, and it should happen during this one month,” Qomi said and asked Afghanistan to take practical steps in this regard.&nbsp;

“Taliban officials know that they must engage in constructive interaction with their neighbours if they want to have a strong, stable government in their country that includes all of the people's representatives and the country moves towards peace, stability, independence, territorial integrity, and prosperity," the ambassador added.&nbsp;

Officials from Iran have always stressed the significance of the implementation of the 1973 Helmand River treaty between Iran and Afghanistan. As per the treaty, Afghanistan is committed to sharing water from the river at the rate of 26 cubic metres of water per second, or 850 million cubic metres per annum.&nbsp;

The right to water from the river recently became a controversial issue between the two countries.&nbsp;

Before Ambassador Qomi, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi had said the Taliban should ensure that Tehran's water rights of the river were based on international treaties. On Thursday, President Raisi said that the Taliban should immediately provide Iran with its share of water.&nbsp;

“We will not allow the rights of our people to be violated,” he added. The president also urged the Taliban to allow Iranian hydrologists to check the water levels of the river.&nbsp;

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After the rise in tensions over Iran's water rights from the Helmand River in recent days, Tehran has now said that Taliban-ruled Afghanistan should clarify the issue of Iran's water rights within a month.

After the rise in tensions over Iran's water rights from the Helmand River in recent days, Tehran has now said that Taliban-ruled Afghanistan should clarify the issue of Iran's water rights within a month. According to a report by Tolo News on Saturday (May 20), Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran's ambassador to Afghanistan, told Iranian media that if the Taliban want Kabul to move towards peace and stability, it should have constructive interaction with its neighbours. “If there was water and the Taliban did not provide it to the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, then it is clear how it should act on this issue, which is one of the basic rights of the Iranian nation, and it should happen during this one month,” Qomi said and asked Afghanistan to take practical steps in this regard. “Taliban officials know that they must engage in constructive interaction with their neighbours if they want to have a strong, stable government in their country that includes all of the people's representatives and the country moves towards peace, stability, independence, territorial integrity, and prosperity," the ambassador added. Officials from Iran have always stressed the significance of the implementation of the 1973 Helmand River treaty between Iran and Afghanistan. As per the treaty, Afghanistan is committed to sharing water from the river at the rate of 26 cubic metres of water per second, or 850 million cubic metres per annum. The right to water from the river recently became a controversial issue between the two countries. Before Ambassador Qomi, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi had said the Taliban should ensure that Tehran's water rights of the river were based on international treaties. On Thursday, President Raisi said that the Taliban should immediately provide Iran with its share of water. “We will not allow the rights of our people to be violated,” he added. The president also urged the Taliban to allow Iranian hydrologists to check the water levels of the river. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Iran's water right issue: Tehran gives Afghanistan one month to resolve problem, says report

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Taliban, Iran exchange heavy gunfire on Afghan border; water rights issue escalates

Iran's water right issue: Tehran gives Afghanistan one month to resolve problem, says report