Youth Killed in Iran Water Crisis Protests

Iranians protest again water shortages in the Khuzestan province, July 15, 2021. (Twitter screenshot)
Iranians protest again water shortages in the Khuzestan province, July 15, 2021. (Twitter screenshot)
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Youth Killed in Iran Water Crisis Protests

Iranians protest again water shortages in the Khuzestan province, July 15, 2021. (Twitter screenshot)
Iranians protest again water shortages in the Khuzestan province, July 15, 2021. (Twitter screenshot)

A young man was shot dead during a second night of protests over water shortages in southwest Iran, a local official said on Saturday, blaming armed protesters for the shooting, state news agency IRNA reported.

Iran is facing its worst drought in 50 years, with protests breaking out in several cities and towns in the oil-rich Khuzestan province over the water crisis, which has affected households, devastated agriculture and livestock farming, and led to power blackouts.

“During the rally, rioters shot in the air to provoke the people, but unfortunately one of the bullets hit a person present at the scene and killed him,” Omid Sabripour, head of the governorate in the town of Shadegan, told IRNA.

Iranian media broadcast a video of the father of the victim, Mostafa Naimawi, who said his son was shot by rioters and not by government security forces.

“My son was not a trouble maker and had nothing to do with riots and disturbances,” the father, who was not identified by name, said in Arabic on the video that provided a Farsi translation.

Videos posted on social media have shown protesters setting fire to tires to block roads and security forces trying to disperse crowds as shots were heard. Reuters could not independently verify the authenticity of the footage.

During some of the protests, people vented their anger with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, chanting “Death to the dictator” and “Death to Khamenei”.

In recent weeks, thousands of workers in Iran’s key energy sector have also held protests, seeking better pay and working conditions in southern gas fields and some refineries in big cities.

Iran’s economy has been crippled by US sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers - some complaining that their wages are not being paid - and pensioners have been protesting for months, with discontent growing over high unemployment and an inflation rate of more than 50%.



China Accuses Australia of 'Hyping' Chinese Naval Drills

FILE PHOTO: Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian attends a press briefing in Beijing, China August 31, 2023. REUTERS/Yew Lun Tian/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian attends a press briefing in Beijing, China August 31, 2023. REUTERS/Yew Lun Tian/File Photo
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China Accuses Australia of 'Hyping' Chinese Naval Drills

FILE PHOTO: Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian attends a press briefing in Beijing, China August 31, 2023. REUTERS/Yew Lun Tian/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian attends a press briefing in Beijing, China August 31, 2023. REUTERS/Yew Lun Tian/File Photo

China’s defense ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said on Sunday that Australian complaints over recent Chinese live-fire naval drills in international waters between Australia and New Zealand were "hyped up" and "inconsistent with the facts”
Australia Defense Minister Richard Marles said on Saturday that Beijing had failed to give satisfactory reasons for what he called inadequate notice for live-fire drills a day earlier, which he said had forced airlines to divert flights.
Qian said in a post from the Chinese defense ministry that China had issued repeated safety notices in advance, and that its actions complied with international law and did not affect aviation flight safety.
"Australia, fully knowing this, made unreasonable accusations against China and deliberately hyped it up," Qian's post said, according to Reuters. "We are deeply surprised and strongly dissatisfied."
New Zealand said on Saturday it had also observed the Chinese navy conducting a second day of live-fire exercises and that it was monitoring a fleet of Chinese vessels.