The story: A water dispute between Afghanistan and Iran has escalated into a deadly clash along the border of the two countries. Government officials in Tehran have been largely silent. On the other hand, Iranian military commanders have sought to downplay tensions—while also warning Kabul to adhere to "good neighborliness." More broadly, the confrontation has raised questions about the Islamic Republic's engagement with the Taliban.

The coverage: Amid rising tensions over the flow of the Helmand River, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on May 25 reiterated that Tehran does not recognize the Taliban administration as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.

Two days later, Iranian forces in Sistan-Baluchestan Province and Taliban fighters in the Afghan province of Nimroz exchanged...