Interconnectedness of Elements of Conflict and Cooperation in the Helmand River Basin

Trans-boundary waters are strategically and geopolitically significant for the living species, regional ecosystems, and development of countries. Due to population growth and increase in demand for commodities, climate change, global warming, drought, water source scarcity, and water maladministration, trans-boundary waters have become a challenging issue in the foreign policy and relation of the coastal countries. Some issues such as the exploiting, managing, and getting water right of the trans-boundary waters have mostly caused conflict in international politics. The Helmand River has been historically considered a matter of conflict (and sometimes, cooperation) between Iran and Afghanistan. This article seeks to provide a theoretical framework for understanding the elements of conflict-crisis between the two countries in this regard. Our main question revolves around the position of trans-boundary rivers in Iran`s foreign policy focusing on the Helmand River. By a descriptive-analytical method, the following research is trying to propose a model for examining and better understanding the position of Helmand River in Iran`s relation with Afghanistan.