Official: Iran to Continue Helping Afghanistan

"If Afghanistan will provide water to revive Iran's drying Hamoun marshlands in the country's Sistan and Balouchestan province, Iran will increase its export of fuel and electricity to that country," Sistan and Balouchestan Governor General Ali Owsat Hashemi said in the Southeastern Zabol city on Tuesday.

He noted that during his upcoming visit to Afghanistan, he will pursue the issue of exchange of fuel and electricity with Afghan officials.

"My visit take place at the invitation of Afghanistan's Nimrouz governor," Owsat Hashemi said.

In late January, Iran and Afghanistan signed an energy cooperation pact to further strengthen their cooperation in the electricity and water sectors.

Under the deal, the Islamic Republic will export more electricity to Afghanistan’s western provinces of Herat, Nimrouz, and Farah.

Iran is one of the most important donors to Afghanistan, which has kept its promises to help to the reconstruction of the war-ravaged country.

Iran has built several roads, power transmission lines, border stations and many other infrastructure projects to better link the two nations.

Iran has also contributed more than $50mln annually to Afghan anti-narcotics efforts during the last five years.