Ahvaz: Protests Expand as Rouhani Promises to Open Dams

Iran's outgoing President Hassan Rouhani promised to open dams in Ahvaz province amidst widespread protests entering their tenth day in the province's cities and some nearby, caused by a water crisis due to river rerouting and dam construction. Rouhani attributed the water shortage to rising temperatures and reduced rainfall but was compelled, as protests expanded, to pledge the opening of dams for drinking water, while residents in the Arab-majority province demanded "actions, not just words" to address the crisis. Hundreds participated in protests in Bojnourd, located in northeastern Iran's Khorasan province, in solidarity with ongoing demonstrations in Ahvaz due to water scarcity and tough living conditions. In Tabriz, in the northwest, Iranian security forces attacked protesters as a broad campaign of protests unfolded, prompting security forces to intervene and suppress demonstrators. Additionally, the city of Falahiya joined the protests in Ahvaz, where clashes were reported between demonstrators and Iranian security forces. The recent water crisis and protests in Ahvaz were not unexpected; in 2015, former Iranian Agriculture Minister Issa Kalantari warned that water scarcity could force 50 million Iranians, or 60% of the population, to leave the country. A report from Bloomberg attributes the causes of the drought to mismanagement and corruption, warning of a potential social explosion arising from the crisis.