Abstract: Recognizing a problem is a crucial step when it comes to tackling any issue in policymaking. In the context of environmental and water-related concerns, Iran faces a persistent challenge regarding the management of the Hirmand/Helmand transboundary river basin shared with Afghanistan. This paper focuses on examining the water-related problems that arise from the utilization of shared resources between Iran and Afghanistan, with a particular emphasis on the Sistan region. The objective is to analyze the various factors contributing to the vulnerable state of Sistan. A "Matrix of Sistan's Water Issues" is presented, utilizing a descriptive-explanatory approach and drawing on a wide range of library sources. This matrix a range of concerns on water problems at the local, provincial, national, and international levels that interact with each other in three areas of environment and climate, agriculture, and household in a complex manner. When examining the international aspect of the water issues in Sistan, this article highlights the internal conditions of Afghanistan and its water management practices, as well as the construction of otherized social identity aimed at nation-state building. Additionally, the involvement of third-party states, motivated by their own interests, has emerged as a significant factor influencing the current state of affairs in Sistan. Given the crucial importance of water for Afghan society and its leaders, it is not surprising that third-party states aiming to exert influence over Afghanistan are aware of this reality. Consequently, third-party states are pursuing infrastructure projects within the Hirmand river basin to benefit themselves, even if it comes at the expense of social changes in Iran's Sistan region.

Introduction: Water, as a natural resource, is one of the resources that are shared among multiple stakeholders at various levels - local, regional, national, and international. The utilization of water by one stakeholder has a significant impact on the consumption of other stakeholders. Therefore, it is imperative to explore and understand the hydropolitical aspects of shared water resources and analyze the complex dynamics of 'water, politics, security, and identity' at different levels, including the local/provincial, national, and international levels.
In the case of transboundary river basins, water utilization in a riparian state is profoundly influenced by the political and security dynamics between governments, which, in turn, can have repercussions on their political and security strategies. Hence, it is crucial to delve into the underlying factors that drive the inclination towards constructing extensive water control infrastructures or hydraulic missions in transboundary river basins in order to elucidate the most suitable approach to address this issue.
In the context of transboundary water-related concerns, Iran faces a persistent challenge regarding the management of the Hirmand/Helmand transboundary river basin shared with Afghanistan (Hafeznia et al. 2006; Ettehad 2010; Thomas and Mahmoudzadeh Varzi 2015; Mianabadi et al. 2020; Ghoreishi et al. 2021). Afghanistan, being one of the most politically and administratively fragile units within the security complex of Asia, faces numerous challenges (Islam and Mostofa, 2023). Consequently, Afghanistan's significant confronting limitations and problems, including security, ethnicity, transit, and energy, have led the country to utilize water as a crucial strategic tool in political and security interactions within the region (Ghoreishi 2020; Ghoreishi et al. 2021).
The Hirmand river basin is strategically vital to both Iran and Afghanistan. It is the largest river basin in Afghanistan, covering approximately 45 percent of the territory. About 30 percent of irrigated areas, 54 percent of intermittently cultivated lands, and 38 percent of the rangeland of Afghanistan are located in the Basin (Favre and Monowar Kamal, 2004). For downstream Iran, the Hirmand River is the mainstream in the region and has protected desert civilizations of the Sistan Delta in Iran for over 6000 years (Whitney, 2006). 96 percent of the Sistan Delta and the Hamoun wetlands’ agroecological water needs depend on surface water coming from Hirmand Basin (Thomas and Mahmoudzadeh Varzi, 2015). The existence of 82 percent of the basin in Afghanistan, on the one hand, and the placement of the large part of the Delta, the Hamoun wetlands, and the Sistan Delta, in Iran, on the other hand, has created a complex interaction between riparian countries.
This article aims to identify the Hirmand water problems in the Sistan region in Iran, and it will analyze the various factors contributing to the vulnerable state of Sistan. The "Matrix of Sistan's Water Issues" is introduced for this aim. It encompasses a range of concerns at the local, provincial, national, and international levels. However, the article aims to shed light on selected aspects of the issue from an international perspective of the Sistan region.

Methodology: This article uses a descriptive-explanatory approach and references from the library.

Results and Discussion: As depicted in ‎Fig. 6, the water problem in Sistan represents a multifaceted and interconnected issue, encompassing climatic, economic, political, social, environmental, and security dimensions. This challenge presents simultaneous interactions and dynamic influences across various levels, including local/provincial, national, and international. Additionally, it's important to recognize that the water problem in the Sistan region transcends the mere scarcity of drinking water; it extends to encompass critical concerns related to water usage in environmental and agricultural domains, each with significant implications for security.
When it comes to policymaking and addressing these challenges, it is paramount to consider the far-reaching impacts of decisions and policies across all sectors and levels. Focusing solely on isolated elements within the proposed matrix without accounting for their impact on other elements can give rise to further complexities and what is commonly recognized as 'Wicked Problems'. As a result, it becomes essential to develop policies, actions, plans, and programs aimed at addressing water issues in the Sistan region based on a comprehensive understanding of the complex interconnections of the contributing factors at various scales and levels. Failing to comprehend these interconnections may exacerbate the problem and spur the emergence of new challenges, giving way to what is termed a type III error. Conversely, an accurate and holistic comprehension of these issues can significantly enhance the effectiveness of policymaking, governance, and water management in Sistan.
Regarding the international aspect of the "Matrix of Sistan's Water Issues", this article argues that the issue of hydraulic missions in Afghanistan and completing the Kamal Khan Dam and water transfer channels extends beyond the mere denial of water to Iran; Afghanistan is also attempting to settle approximately 49,000 Pashtun families near the Iranian border by finalizing these structures. This form of social engineering will undoubtedly create substantial social, political, and security challenges for Iran, particularly as the eastern borders of the country witness continuous depopulation and large-scale population migration. It is worth noting that even though the Kamal Khan Dam reservoir has a capacity of only 52 million cubic meters, this diversion dam can transfer the water of the Hirmand River, with a flow of 6 billion cubic meters at the Kajaki Dam site, to five canals with a total capacity of 5.23 billion cubic meters for transfer. In addition to the Kamal Khan Dam channels, there is another channel called the Lashkari channel near the Iran-Afghanistan border, which has a water transfer capacity of 900 million cubic meters. Based on this, Afghanistan's infrastructures following the Kajaki Dam possess the capability to transfer the entire volume of the Hirmand River water to agricultural lands, leaving practically no water to be allocated to Iran.
The research findings also indicate that the construction of an otherized social identity in Afghanistan has resulted in ecological, environmental, economic, and social changes within Iran's Sistan region. Additionally, the involvement of third-party states, motivated by their own interests, has emerged as a significant factor influencing the current state of affairs in Sistan. Given the crucial importance of water for Afghan society and its leaders, it is not surprising that third-party states aiming to exert influence over Afghanistan are aware of this reality. Consequently, these states are pursuing infrastructure projects within the Hirmand river basin to benefit themselves, even if it comes at the expense of Hamoun degradation in Iran's Sistan region.

Conclusion: Throughout history, Afghanistan's management of water resources has led to substantial ecological, economic, and societal changes within Iran's Sistan region. Central to this has been the pivotal role that the water reservoirs within the Hirmand transboundary river basin play in shaping Afghan leadership. Over time, Afghan leaders have strategically solidified their authority and legitimacy through extensive water-based initiatives and assertive control over these resources, a practice that continues to exert influence today. This control significantly bolsters their standing in negotiations with Iran across political, economic, and security spheres. Moreover, the actions of other nations have also contributed to the degradation of Iran-Afghanistan water relations, particularly concerning the Hirmand waters. Consequently, it is crucial for decision-makers and policymakers in the Hirmand river basin to comprehend the complex interplay of these dimensions and levels, fostering peace, security, and sustainability within the river basin.