Nurses, Workers, Army Retirees, And Poultry Farmers Hold Protests In Cities Across IranIn a statement, the workers demanded a review of the job classification plan to equalize the wages of contract workers with those of permanent employees. Other demands included changing the work schedule for administrative and support staff to two weeks of work followed by two weeks of rest, organizing the employment conditions of non-owner drivers of leased vehicles, paying air travel allowances to contract workers, and restoring welfare facilities and camp benefits. For years, despite repeated promises, the job classification plan in South Pars has not been properly implemented, and there remains a significant gap between the wages of contract and permanent employees. According to one employee from Phase 12 of South Pars, “The presence of contractors has led to the violation of workers’ rights, and there is insufficient oversight over how payments are made.” As Iran’s regime continues to fail to address the demands of various social groups, different groups of workers, employees, and retirees across the country have gone on strike and staged protests in recent days and weeks. On November 3, retirees from the Telecommunications Company of Iran held protests in various cities. Nurses from the Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, workers from the Makian Alvan slaughterhouse in Rey (south of Tehran), and a group of offshore oil employees in Lavan also gathered to protest the neglect of their demands.
Thousands of Oil Workers in Iran Demand Removal of Contractors and Equalization of Wages
More than three thousand contract workers at the South Pars Gas Complex gathered in front of the central building of the complex in Asaluyeh, demanding the implementation of the wage equalization plan, a change in the work pattern, and the complete removal of contractors.
A large group of contract workers from the twelve South Pars refineries gathered on Tuesday, November 11, in the streets leading to the headquarters of the South Pars Gas Complex in Asaluyeh, calling for their labor demands to be addressed.
These workers, including third-party, company-based, and contractual employees from various phases of South Pars and the Fajr Jam refinery, carried placards calling for wage justice and the removal of contractors.
Number of Water Wells in Iran 2.5 Times Greater Than All Middle Eastern Countries Combined
As Iran’s water crisis intensifies and the regime fails to address it, the number of domestic media reports examining the causes of the crisis has increased. According to one such report, the number of water wells in Iran is 2.5 times that of all other Middle Eastern countries combined.
The state-run Rokna news agency reported on Monday, November 10, that while Middle Eastern countries collectively have about 400,000 water wells, the number of active and semi-active wells in Iran exceeds one million.
Iranian Regime President Issues Belated Water Shortage Warning—The Reality Is Even More TerrifyingAccording to the report, half of Iran’s wells—about 500,000—have been dug illegally. Rokna wrote that these figures indicate the country’s remaining groundwater reserves are being destroyed, and there is no serious plan to halt this process. In recent days, new dimensions of Iran’s water shortage crisis have come to light, sounding a serious alarm for people’s daily lives and the continuation of many industries. Masoud Pezeshkian, the president of Iran’s regime, said on November 6 that if it does not rain in November, water in Tehran will be rationed, and if the drought continues, plans must be made to evacuate the city.
Thousands of Liters of Hidden Water in Fruit Exports
Despite being in the midst of one of the most severe water crises in its history, Iran continues to export water-intensive agricultural products. Rokna added that behind every kilogram of watermelon, cucumber, or orange exported from Iran lies thousands of liters of hidden water. According to the outlet’s estimates, for every one dollar earned from fruit and vegetable exports, about 5,800 liters of groundwater are depleted—meaning that Iran is, in effect, “selling water instead of fruit.” Rokna further stated that Iran’s water crisis is no longer just an environmental issue but also a security, economic, and social crisis, as the drying of land signals the collapse of livelihoods and leads to forced migration. The outlet warned: “With every new illegal well, the future of a village—and perhaps a part of ancient Iranian civilization—collapses.” The Iranian regime is in dire need of foreign currency from fruit exports to Persian Gulf countries because, under international sanctions, it can no longer finance its regional proxy groups as it once did.31% Decline in Renewable Water Resources
Abdoljalal Eiry, spokesperson for the regime’s parliamentary Civil Engineering Commission, warned on November 10 that the country’s renewable water resources have declined by about 31%. He explained that the country’s renewable water resources, previously around 130 billion cubic meters, have now fallen to less than 90 billion cubic meters. Eiry added that the consumption-to-resource ratio has risen to about 90%, whereas, according to global standards, it should not exceed 40%. Despite years and decades of repeated warnings from experts, Iran’s water governance system has focused on dam construction and digging deep wells instead of investing in infrastructure, while blaming the crisis solely on reduced rainfall.Student Protests
As water cuts and rationing continued in Al-Zahra University dormitories, a group of students held a protest on the evening of November 8. Chanting slogans such as “We are waiting for our rights, we won’t leave, we are staying right here,” the students demanded the lifting of restrictions on access to water. According to student reports, water in the dormitory showers is available only between 8 and 10 p.m. and is cut off for the rest of the day. Before the protest, images had circulated showing students lined up in the university dormitory courtyard to receive bottled water. The Amir Kabir student newsletter reported that following the water outage, each student was allocated a limited quota of bottled water. Abbas Aliabadi, the regime’s Minister of Energy, announced on November 9 that there would be nightly water outages across the country and urged citizens to install domestic water storage tanks. However, many Iranians cannot afford the cost of purchasing and installing water storage equipment, and previous reports have indicated that prices for such equipment have risen sharply following the government’s recommendation to buy them.‘Red Alert’ Level Air Pollution in Tehran and Several Other Provinces
Iranian media reported that air pollution levels in Tehran and several other major cities, including Isfahan and Ahvaz, have risen sharply, reaching the “red alert” level.
The state-run IRIB news agency reported on Monday, November 10, that air quality in several cities across the provinces of Tehran, Alborz, Isfahan, and Khuzestan had reached levels classified as “unhealthy and very unhealthy for all groups.”
According to the report, the air pollution index in Mahshahr, Khuzestan, exceeded 200—classified as “very unhealthy” for all population groups.
Air Pollution In Khuzestan Caused More Than 1,600 Deaths In Past YearAir quality was also reported as “red and unhealthy for all” in the cities of Eshtehard and Fardis in Alborz Province; Eslamshahr, Baghestan, and Baharestan in Tehran Province; Khomeinishahr and Qahjavarestan in Isfahan Province; and in Ahvaz, Aghajari, Andimeshk, Baghmalek, Behbahan, Khorramshahr, Dezful, Dasht-e Azadegan, Shadegan, Shushtar, Karun, and Hoveyzeh in Khuzestan Province. The report added that in some areas of these provinces, the air quality index was at the “orange” level, meaning “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”
Ban on Issuing Traffic Permits in Tehran
The state-run Shargh daily reported on Monday that due to the continued unhealthy air conditions, Tehran’s Emergency Air Pollution Committee has announced a ban on issuing daily traffic zone permits until the situation improves. As a result, Tehran residents will not be able to obtain daily permits to enter the city’s traffic-restricted zones until air quality improves. In July, Mehdi Chamran, head of Tehran’s City Council, stated that the worsening air pollution in the capital was not solely due to traffic or temperature inversion but was partly caused by water shortages and drought. He added: “We must combat pollution through green spaces and efficient water use.”Air Pollution Covers “Half the Country”
The Tabnak news website quoted meteorologist Mohammad Asghari as saying that “air pollution has covered half the country,” noting that industrial and major cities such as Tehran, Alborz, Khuzestan, Isfahan, Markazi, East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan, and Semnan are currently struggling with severe air pollution. On Sunday, November 9, Alireza Raeisi, the Deputy Health Minister, stated that around 58,975 people in Iran died due to air pollution in 2024. He added: “This figure equals the death of 161 citizens per day, or about seven every hour.” According to the Deputy Health Minister, estimates show that deaths attributed to air pollution in 2024 caused about 17.2 billion dollars in economic losses to the country.Drug and Medical Equipment Prices Jump 70% in Iran
The news website Rouydad24 reported that the implementation of the so-called “Daroyar” plan and the removal of the 42,000-rial preferential exchange rate have led to an average 70% increase in the cost of medicine, medical equipment, and healthcare services.
Rouydad24 wrote on Monday, November 10, that the Daroyar plan—intended to offset drug price increases through insurance reimbursements—has failed to meet its main goal, leaving the financial burden directly on the people.
The outlet added: “In practice, the rising exchange rate and the liquidity shortage among pharmaceutical and medical importers—along with overall inflation and growing costs of packaging, transportation, and energy—have made it impossible for medical centers to consistently meet their needs, forcing patients to buy drugs and medical supplies directly from the market.”
Pharmacists and Doctors Concerned Over the Impact of Rising Drug Prices and Shortages in IranAccording to the report, the surge in drug prices stems from three key factors, each playing a decisive role in the disorder of Iran’s pharmaceutical market. First, the failure of the Daroyar plan has caused the price difference to be paid by citizens instead of being covered by insurance. Second, financial imbalances within the Social Security Organization and insurance companies, combined with fixed service tariffs, have prevented real compensation for costs. Third, profiteering networks and the pharmaceutical mafia—through hoarding and black-market sales—have kept prices artificially high. The state-run Khorasan newspaper also addressed the crisis of rising drug prices on November 10, writing: “Certain companies, through monopolies on import and distribution, are keeping prices artificially high.” This is not the first time reports of drug price hikes have surfaced in Iran. Previously, following the activation of the “Snapback” mechanism and the reinstatement of UN sanctions, drug prices in Iran—from specialized medications to basic cold tablets and syrups—multiplied several times, forcing citizens to visit multiple pharmacies to find what they need. After the expiration of the 30-day period set under the UN Security Council’s Snapback resolution, all previous sanctions against the Iranian regime were reimposed on September 28, and their effects quickly appeared across Iran’s economy. On October 4, the regime’s parliamentary Health Commission warned of potential “humanitarian catastrophes” due to delays by the Central Bank in allocating foreign currency for drug imports. Salman Es’haghi, spokesperson for the regime’s Health and Treatment Commission in Majlis (Parliament), said at the time that the Central Bank’s delay in providing foreign currency for medicine stemmed from its “lack of understanding of the importance of public health,” adding: “The Central Bank assumes this currency is like that allocated for goods such as cell phones, cars, and similar items.”
Iranian Student Ahmad Baledi Dies from Self-Immolation in Protest of His Stall’s Demolition by Regime Authorities
Ahmad Baledi, a 20-year-old young man, died after setting himself on fire in protest against the demolition of his family’s food stall.
Iranian media reported that Ahmad Baledi, a 20-year-old student in Ahvaz, died after setting himself on fire in protest against the demolition of his family’s food stall by municipal authorities. He had been hospitalized at Taleghani Hospital in Ahvaz with 70% burns.
The state-run Mehr News Agency reported that the young man passed away on the morning of Tuesday, November 11, despite medical staff’s efforts to save his life.
Amir Khalafian, the public and revolutionary prosecutor of Ahvaz, announced on November 10 the temporary arrest and subsequent release on bail of the city’s mayor and the head of municipal enforcement, as well as arrest warrants for three other individuals in connection with Baledi’s self-immolation.
Khalafian added: “Several individuals who sought to cause tension and unrest on social media have also been temporarily released on bail.”
The Karun Human Rights Organization earlier reported that on November 2, agents from District 3 of the Ahvaz municipality, accompanied by police officers, went to the food stall of Mojahed Baledi, the owner, in Zeytun Park and demolished it without prior notice or his presence.
At the time, Baledi’s wife and his student son were present and staged a sit-in inside the stall to prevent its demolition. Nevertheless, the officers continued the destruction.
According to the report, the deputy director of services of District 3 Municipality of Ahvaz violently grabbed Mojahed Baledi’s wife by the hand and threw her out of the stall.
Ahmad, in response to this “unjust behavior and violence against his mother and in protest of the injustice,” set himself on fire with gasoline in front of the officers.
The incident sparked widespread outrage on social media, where users shared his photos and denounced “the injustice and unlawful conduct of Ahvaz Municipality.”
Later, on the evening of November 6, a group of citizens and Baledi’s relatives gathered in front of Taleghani Hospital in Ahvaz to hold a protest.
Following this, three Ahvazi Arab civil and media activists—Hassan Salamat, Javad Saedi, and Sadegh Alboshoke—who had shared news about Baledi’s protest self-immolation, were arrested by security forces.
In recent years, numerous cases of self-immolation and suicide among Iranian workers have been reported due to dismissals, harsh working conditions, delayed or unpaid wages, and other hardships.
Iran’s ‘No To Execution Tuesdays’ Campaign Marks 94th Week
Reports from Iranian prisons indicate that the “No To Execution Tuesdays” campaign continued on Tuesday, November 11, entering its ninety-fourth week. This campaign, launched nearly two years ago to end the massive waves of executions in Iran, has continued uninterrupted and is expanding. In a statement, the campaign emphasized that no government can silence the powerful voices of truth, justice, and freedom through executions, calling on all conscientious individuals to turn the cry of “No to execution” into a powerful wave in every city and street, because inaction and silence mean the taking of innocent and defenseless lives in the prisons of the tyrannical and bloodthirsty rule of the supreme leader.
Global Athletes Demand UN Action to Stop Execution of Iranian BoxerFull text of the statement by the “No To Execution Tuesdays” campaign Expansion of the “No To Execution Tuesdays” campaign in its ninety-fourth week across fifty-four different prisons
With the men’s ward of Zahedan Prison joining the campaign
On the eve of the anniversary of the November 2019 uprising, we begin by honoring the memory of those who were massacred by the tyrannical regime. Since the establishment of the dictatorship of the supreme leader in February 1979, through the November 2019 uprising, the nationwide protests of 2022, and up to today, the people of Iran have walked a costly path toward freedom and human dignity. Decades of repression, discrimination, and killings have failed to extinguish the people’s will for liberation and freedom. In recent days, Reza Abdali, an Ahvazi Arab political prisoner, has been sentenced to death. We demand the immediate cancellation of this sentence and an end to the cycle of death in Iran’s prisons. In other news, on Monday, Ehsan Afrashteh and Mehdi Farid, two prisoners sentenced to death on security-related charges, were transferred from Ward 7 of Evin Prison to an unknown location after being beaten. Although political prisoners tried to prevent their transfer, there are serious concerns that their death sentences may soon be carried out. In a time when demands for justice are met with imprisonment, torture, and execution, the social reflection of this rampant repression among the most deprived segments of society sometimes manifests in the heartbreaking form of self-immolation—an act of protest that arises from utter despair. This past week brought the tragic news of the death of Kourosh Khairy, a driver with the Khorramabad Department of Education, who set himself on fire in protest over his dismissal from work. Equally heartbreaking was the self-immolation of Ahmad Baledi, an Ahvazi student who took this desperate action after authorities demolished his small street stall in an act of injustice. These are bitter examples of the voiceless cries of people who, crushed by oppression and humiliation, find only their own lives as instruments of protest. A regime that seeks to silence voices of protest through executions and repression has, amid these turbulent and critical days in Iran, intensified executions to a frenzied degree. Since October 23 alone, 165 people have been executed; in just the past week, 72 individuals—including one woman—were hanged, and on November 3 and 4 alone, 29 people lost their lives to the gallows. Official figures show that since March 21, 2025, more than 1,313 executions have been carried out in Iran—a horrifying number that reflects the normalization of death under the shadow of injustice. The “No To Execution Tuesdays” campaign reiterates that no government can silence the powerful voices of truth, justice, and freedom through executions. It calls upon all conscientious individuals to turn the cry of “No to execution” into a loud and unrelenting wave in every city and street, because inaction and silence mean the loss of innocent and defenseless lives in the prisons of the tyrannical and bloodthirsty rule of the supreme leader.Prisons participating in the campaign
With the support of the Iranian people, prisoners have stood firm against the machinery of fear and terror. In the ninety-fourth week of the campaign’s hunger strike, the men’s ward of Zahedan Prison has also joined the “No To Execution Tuesdays” campaign. On Tuesday, November 11, during its ninety-fourth week, prisoners in fifty-four prisons across Iran joined the “No To Execution Tuesdays” campaign by staging a hunger strike.Tehran-Linked Hacking Group Leaks Technical Designs of Australia’s $7 Billion Armored Vehicles
According to Sky News Australia, a hacker group supporting Hamas and linked to the Iranian regime launched a major cyberattack against Israeli defense companies, obtaining and publishing online the technical blueprints of Australia’s new infantry fighting vehicles, worth $7 billion.
The report, published on Sunday, November 9, stated that the hacker group “Cyber Tornado,” believed to be connected to the Iranian regime, obtained and released 3D renderings and technical details of the next-generation “Redback” armored vehicles being developed for the Australian Army.
According to the report, these military vehicles are to be equipped with advanced weapon turrets produced by the Israeli defense company Elbit Systems.
Anonymous Hackers Tied to Iran’s Regime Targeted American Researchers with Fake e-MailsThe hacker group claimed in a statement that after infiltrating the security cameras of “Maya Technologies,” an Israeli defense supply-chain company, over a year ago, it accessed classified data from 17 Israeli defense firms. According to Sky News, since October 22, the group has claimed it “penetrated the heart of Israel’s defense engineering operations” and began releasing classified details of 36 Israeli military projects on its Telegram channel. Elbit’s turrets include advanced sensors and remote-controlled weapon systems designed by the Australian defense company EOS (Electro Optic Systems). They are armed with Elbit’s 30mm cannon and equipped with the “Iron Fist” active protection system. Sky News Australia reported that the leaked data also revealed designs for a helmet-mounted display system developed by Elbit. The system’s design and technology are similar to the displays used in Redback armored vehicles and the “Spike NLOS” anti-tank missile system that Australia is considering purchasing. Sky News wrote that it remains unclear how much data was stolen and whether it could be used to develop countermeasures against Redback’s weapons or defense technologies. The report also noted concerns that Israel’s advanced military capabilities could be reverse-engineered using the stolen data. Under the contract, the Australian Army is to receive 127 Redback armored vehicles—tank-like infantry fighting vehicles—designed by South Korea’s Hanwha Defense, at a total value of about $7 billion. Elbit’s turrets will be supplied under a separate contract worth approximately $920 million.
Claim of hacking Israel’s Rafael defense systems
The Cyber Tornado group also claimed that after its initial breach of Maya Technologies, it managed to hack into the systems of both Elbit and another Israeli defense giant, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.Tehran-Backed Hackers Carried Out a Cyber Intrusion Against Mediators in the Gaza Ceasefire NegotiationsIn the group’s statement, referring to what it called the hacking of Elbit’s and Rafael’s systems, phones, printers, routers, and cameras, it said: “We have recorded your meetings with audio and video for more than a year. This is just the beginning with Maya.” Katherine Mansted, executive director of cyber intelligence at CyberCX, told Sky News Australia that Iranian regime-backed hacker infiltrations of Israeli companies—and subsequent harm to their Australian clients—had occurred before, adding that this incident highlights one of the “most complex and potentially existential threats” facing Australian organizations. Mansted noted that Cyber Tornado is “a highly active anti-Israel hacking persona,” adding: “The group claims to have infiltrated at least 100 Israeli entities… and we strongly suspect that this group is, in fact, a proxy force of the Iranian government.” Cyber Tornado emerged on October 27, 2023, only a few weeks after Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel. Israel’s International Institute for Counter-Terrorism stated that the group’s activities—focused on infiltrating servers, databases, and leaking information—“strongly indicate state sponsorship, with evidence suggesting that Iran is most likely backing it.”
State Cleric Blames ‘Women Not Wearing Hijab’ For Drought in Iran
As Iran’s water crisis worsens and the regime fails to manage its water resources, a member of the Assembly of Experts claimed that the regime’s desired form of mandatory hijab not being observed in the streets is the cause of Iran’s water crisis, drought, and reduced rainfall.
On Sunday, November 9, Mohsen Araki said: “Drought, water crisis, and reduced rainfall are signs of God’s warning to awaken us from negligence and inattentiveness toward Him.”
He added: “The Islamic Revolution is built on the blood of martyrs, and it is not right that our streets become a parade ground for open sin, unveiled women, and public immorality.”
The Assembly of Experts member continued: “These behaviors have consequences, and a society known for its faith and Shiism must be sensitive toward such deviations.”
Iranian Regime President Issues Belated Water Shortage Warning—The Reality Is Even More TerrifyingThese remarks reflect the recurring approach of Iranian regime officials, who instead of examining scientific causes or offering solutions to the water crisis, attribute it to “individual sin” and “women’s appearance.” By repeating religious rhetoric, they avoid accountability for mismanagement and failed policies. In such narratives, technical questions and demands for transparency are sidelined and replaced by moral warnings and police threats. Independent experts in water and environmental issues have emphasized that Iran’s drought results from a combination of the water mafia’s influence, climatic trends, and decades of structural mismanagement—including the expansion of water-intensive and subsidy-driven agriculture, overexploitation of groundwater, and lack of sustainable consumption models in industries and cities. According to them, reducing this multilayered crisis to the issue of hijab not only lacks any scientific basis but also hinders the political will necessary to reform water policies and hold responsible institutions accountable.
Nighttime water cuts in Iran
As Iran’s water crisis continues, Abbas Aliabadi, the regime’s minister of energy, announced on November 9 that nighttime water cuts will be implemented across the country and urged people to install household water storage systems. Ahad Vazifeh, head of the National Center for Climate and Drought Crisis Management, said forecasts show that no significant rain system will pass over Iran in the next 10 days. Mehdi Chamran, head of Tehran’s City Council, also proposed holding a “rain prayer” as one of the ways to address the water shortage crisis. He added: “People today have forgotten that in the past, people used to go into the desert, pray for rain, and they succeeded. Alongside all other measures for water shortage, we should not neglect this.” On November 6, regime president Masoud Pezeshkian warned that if it does not rain in December, water in Tehran will be rationed, and if the drought persists, the capital will have to be evacuated. In response to these remarks, Reza Haji Karim, head of Iran’s Water Industry Federation, stressed that the water situation in the capital is “more worrying” than Pezeshkian’s statements and “more terrifying” than official statistics suggest. Experts say Iran’s water crisis reflects years of mismanagement, flawed policies, and the regime’s neglect in reforming key structures in water resource management—a crisis that now makes accountability and reform unavoidable.Air Pollution In Khuzestan Caused More Than 1,600 Deaths In Past Year
Mehrdad Sharifi, deputy director of health at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, announced that air pollution in the past year has caused the deaths of 1,624 people in Khuzestan province.
On November 9, Sharifi said that in the past year, air pollution has inflicted more than 427 million dollars in damages to the health sector.
He added that in October alone, at least 22,000 people were hospitalized in Khuzestan due to air pollution.
Critical Air Pollution in Iran’s Major CitiesThe Research Center of Iran’s regime Majlis (parliament)had previously announced that in 2023, air pollution was responsible for the premature deaths of more than 30,000 people across 57 cities with a combined population of about 48 million. In August 2025, Iranian media also reported that air pollution in the previous year had caused the deaths of 6,000 people in the capital, Tehran. According to government officials, Isfahan province has the highest number of cancer and multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in the country, largely due to air pollution. The air pollution situation in Khuzestan is extremely critical, with the air quality in several cities of the province often categorized as “purple” or even “brown”—the most hazardous levels—on many days of the year. According to Sharifi, the air in the cities of Ahvaz, Dasht-e Azadegan, and Hoveyzeh has been classified as “healthy” for only two days over the past few months. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is divided into six categories—“clean,” “acceptable,” “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” “unhealthy,” “very unhealthy,” and “hazardous”—with purple and brown representing the most dangerous levels for breathing. This index is determined based on measurements of various air pollutants, including carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns. With the continuation of air pollution in Khuzestan, all elementary and lower secondary schools in the province will remain closed until late November. So far, several sources have been cited as contributors to Khuzestan’s air pollution, including industrial emissions, fires in the Iraqi part of the Hoor al-Azim wetland, burning of crop residues, rice and sugarcane cultivation, fires at old waste sites, and vehicle emissions. However, air pollution is not limited to Khuzestan province; this crisis has affected citizens’ lives across other cities and provinces in Iran as well. In recent years, air pollution levels in Iran have repeatedly reached critical thresholds, while frequent dust storms have further exacerbated environmental crises and public health threats. Despite the growing severity of the problem, Iran’s regime has so far failed to introduce any coherent or sustainable plan to control or manage this crisis.
Belated Warning by Regime President About Water Shortages—The Reality Is Even More Terrifying
The head of Iran’s Water Industry Federation emphasized that Tehran’s water situation is worsening exponentially, warning that the capital’s water condition is “more concerning” than Iranian regime president Masoud Pezeshkian’s recent remarks about the need to evacuate Tehran and “more terrifying” than official statistics indicate.
Reza Haji Karim, in an interview with the state-run Didban Iran website published on Saturday, November 8, said: “The reality is that Tehran’s water situation is as bad and even more alarming than what the president warned about.”
Iranian Regime President Issues Belated Water Shortage Warning—The Reality Is Even More TerrifyingThe head of the Water Industry Federation stressed: “This warning has come very late.” On November 6, Masoud Pezeshkian warned that if it does not rain by late November, water in Tehran will be rationed, and if the drought continues, the city must be evacuated. Amid the ongoing water crisis across many provinces in Iran, Mohsen Ardakani, the director-general of Tehran’s Water and Wastewater Company, described the capital’s water status as “critical and concerning.” The head of the Water Industry Federation, referring to the “severe depletion of Tehran’s groundwater reservoirs,” added: “Currently, 62% of Tehran’s water supply comes from underground sources and 38% from surface water, which is almost exhausted or nearing depletion.” Haji Karim also questioned the statistics on Tehran’s dam reserves, saying: “The figure that states only 5% of the water reserves in the dams supplying Tehran remains is not very accurate — the reality is somewhat more terrifying than the official numbers.” While some Iranian media outlets have reported unofficial water rationing in Tehran, the head of the Water Industry Federation said: “This should have started much earlier. We had repeatedly requested in meetings with national water officials that water rationing in Tehran begin sooner, though this measure comes with its own challenges.” He added that by rationing, he meant that “water, like electricity, should be cut off at specific times of the day, district by district.”
The solutions are not feasible in the short term
Currently, various solutions are being discussed to tackle the water crisis, such as water recycling systems, changing consumption patterns, using water-saving devices, public education, and reducing agricultural water use.The Karaj Dam’s Reservoir Can Only Supply Tehran’s Drinking Water for Two WeeksThe head of the Water Industry Federation stressed: “These measures cannot be implemented in the short term, but some could show results within a few months.” He explained: “For example, in densely populated areas, wastewater can be recycled and reused for various purposes such as green spaces, cooling towers, or toilet flushing. In the medium term, revising agricultural policies can help reduce water consumption in that sector.” Haji Karim continued: “The ultimate solution is to prevent 30 million cubic meters of Tehran’s water from being used for construction or non-essential purposes. Drinking water should not be used for toilet flushing, and the province of Tehran should not consume 1.8 billion cubic meters of water for agriculture.”
