Government forces fired tear gas at protesters in Sabzevar, northeast Iran, on Tuesday night as demonstrations over prolonged blackouts and water shortages entered a second consecutive day.
Crowds chanted “Shameless, shameless” after the crackdown, according to footage sent to Iran International.
Residents rallied outside the Sabzevar governorate, denouncing outages that have paralyzed daily life amid extreme heat. Videos show men and women shouting, “If we don’t get our rights, we won’t leave,” along with “Only the streets will give us our rights” and “Water, electricity, life—our absolute rights.”
Officials have blamed the crisis on “unprecedented drought.” Iran is experiencing its second-driest year in five decades, with rainfall down 43% from last year. Major dams, particularly those supplying Tehran, are at critically low levels.
In Tehran, residents in districts including Pounak, Amirabad, and Pardis shouted “Death to Khamenei” and “Death to the dictator” from their windows during extended outages. In Sadra, near Shiraz, demonstrators echoed the same chants late Tuesday.
In an unusual move, Tehran’s Water Company announced plans to distribute plastic-bagged water—then withdrew the statement hours later without explanation.
Government data shows 24 of Iran’s 31 provinces are under water stress, affecting cities such as Tehran, Mashhad, Tabriz, and Isfahan.
On Wednesday, amid rising public anger, authorities declared a holiday in 23 provinces, citing “heat and energy management.” Other regions cut working hours to mornings only.
Years of sanctions, aging infrastructure, and mismanagement have strained Iran’s energy systems, with summer blackouts a recurring pattern.
But conditions appear to have worsened following last month’s 12-day war with Israel. Iranians report more frequent and severe outages on the back of a surge in use as more people were forced to stay at home amid the government shutdowns.
Hardline Tehran MP Amirhossein Sabeti warned Wednesday that without major water savings, shutdowns may extend through summer, potentially closing the capital for up to four days a week.
“If necessary, every week may be off from Tuesday or Wednesday [until Saturday],” he said, suggesting the goal is to drive residents out of the city to cut demand.
The IRGC-linked Moj News acknowledged the toll of the crisis, warning that shortages are damaging mental health, fraying family life, and fueling tensions between communities.
The outlet said growing competition for access to water is already triggering local disputes, and without urgent management, broader social unrest could follow.
With temperatures topping 40°C in Tehran and nearing 50°C in the south, many now face all-day water cuts—or near zero pressure—and frequent power failures.
Dozens shared their experiences with Iran International, highlighting the scale of the crisis and its toll nationwide.
“This is a big prison called Iran that has neither water nor electricity,” said a woman from Fardis, a suburb of Karaj.
“Water outage again… People have reached the breaking point. Do something before it’s too late, you irresponsible officials!” another woman pleaded.
A man in Tabriz sent footage of a kitchen sink filled with unwashed dishes. “There has been no water for 12 hours,” he said, ending his message with: “Death to the Islamic Republic, death to Khamenei.”
Even Gilan—a lush, northern province with over 1.2 meters of rainfall—has seen outages, challenging claims that drought alone is to blame.
No water, no power
Low pressure is compounding the crisis. In many buildings, only the lower floors receive water—barely.
Some residents install private pumps to reach upper floors, but these depend on electricity, which is also being cut.
“The lower floors have low-pressure water, but the upper floors, even with a pump, have none,” wrote journalist Maryam Shokrani on X.
A refrigerator technician in Tehran said he hadn’t been able to test appliances for over a week. “There’s either no electricity or no water to check if the cold water and icemaker work,” he said.
Small businesses without backup systems are especially affected.
More than a drought
Officials blame the crisis on “unprecedented drought.” Iran is in its second-driest year in five decades, with rainfall down 43% from last year. Key dams, especially those feeding Tehran, are critically low.
Government data shows 24 of 31 provinces are under “water stress,” including major cities like Tehran, Mashhad, Tabriz, and Isfahan.
In response, the government shut down or shortened hours at offices and banks in several provinces on Wednesday, citing peak demand. Spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said closures may continue.
Visions gone dry
Experts say the real roots lie in chronic mismanagement, flawed policy, and decades of unsustainable water use in agriculture and industry.
Since 2000, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has called for population growth and food self-sufficiency in crops like wheat and rice—both highly water-intensive. In a 2021 speech, he reiterated that producing wheat, corn, and barley domestically was “both necessary and achievable.”
Experts argue these goals have worsened shortages, particularly in arid regions.
In Yazd, among Iran’s driest cities, officials have permitted sturgeon farming—a water-heavy industry—to produce caviar for export. The city has also grown rapidly due to industrial expansion.
Now, Yazd is locked in disputes with Isfahan over scarce water, highlighting how poor national coordination is fueling provincial rivalries. Both cities are major industrial hubs, making the stakes especially high.