International and Arab News
Iran
Tehran’s ‘Deadliest’ Police Units Deployed to Quell Ahwaz Protests
Special security taskforces deployed to quash the water shortage protests raging in Iran’s southwestern Ahwaz province include one of Tehran’s “deadliest” units, well-informed sources revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat. Their deployment comes at a time when demonstrators are clashing with riot police in
Qatar’s FM Meets Raisi in Tehran
In an unannounced visit and only days after holding meetings in Washington, Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani met in Tehran Sunday with Iran’s President-elect Ebrahim Raisi. Qatar’s top diplomat earlier met Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif for talks focusing on
Tehran Seeks to Calm Protests by Opening Dams in Ahwaz
Outgoing Iranian President Hassan Rouhani blamed rising temperatures and lower rain levels for the water shortage crisis but promised to open dams to provide potable water. He made his remarks on the eve of the tenth day of water shortage protests raging across Arab towns in the southwestern Ahwa
Iran Says Police Officer Killed in Unrest amid Water Protest
An Iranian police officer was killed during unrest in the country's restive southwest amid ongoing demonstrations over water shortages, state media reported Wednesday, raising the death toll in the unrest to at least two people. Gunfire killed the officer in the city of Mahshar and another suffer
Ahvaz Protests Threaten to Spread Across Iran
The expansion of protests over the diversion of Ahvaz rivers and the drying up of wetlands in southwestern Iran threatens to spread across the country, two weeks before the inauguration of President-elect Ibrahim Raisi. Calls spread for protests to be held in Iranian cities in solidarity with the
Iran's Daily COVID-19 Infections Hit Another High
Iran on Tuesday broke another record in the country's daily new coronavirus cases, even as Tehran and its surroundings went into lockdown, a week-long measure imposed amid another surge in the pandemic. The country’s health ministry announced 27,444 new cases and 250 deaths over the past day, bri
Tehran Anti-Riot Squads Cordon Ahvaz Water Shortage Protests
In a brutal crackdown on water shortage protests, Iranian authorities deployed special riot police taskforces to surround Arab towns in the southwestern Ahvaz province. On Saturday evening, activists talked about the arrival of a convoy of special anti-riot squads linked to the Tehran police.