In recent days, as environmental, livelihood, and infrastructure crises—especially water shortages—have intensified across the country, a wave of popular protests has swept through Iran. The failure to address people’s most basic needs has once again turned the streets into scenes of angry outcries.
On Wednesday, July 25, residents of the village of Barzanun near Nishapur blocked the main road in protest against the ongoing water cuts. Villagers say the water crisis has paralyzed daily life, destroyed agricultural crops, killed livestock, and left people without enough drinking water. The complete indifference of officials to this situation has been the main trigger behind the eruption of these protests.
In the city of Baladeh, part of the Amol region in northern Iran, another protest was held in response to two fatal accidents caused by mining operations. Protesters, chanting “No to Mines,” expressed their anger over environmental insecurity and the loss of lives due to the incompetence of officials. They demanded an immediate halt to all mining activities in this mountainous area.
In the city of Anar, dozens of residents gathered in front of the local electricity department on the evening of July 22 to protest repeated power outages and the resulting damages. Citizens sarcastically questioned local officials, asking what kind of amenities their families enjoy during blackouts—while ordinary people are left to suffer in the heat, darkness, and face damage to electrical appliances.
It is worth noting that in recent days, the city of Sabzevar has also witnessed widespread protests for several consecutive days over water and power outages. People blocked streets and gathered in front of the governor’s office, chanting slogans such as “We have no water, no power—Governor, are you asleep?” The use of tear gas against protesters not only failed to disperse them but also further fueled public anger. Sabzevar has now become a symbol of protest against discrimination and the regime’s incompetence in managing essential resources.
These protests clearly reflect the widespread social discontent over the regime’s inability and irresponsibility in providing the most basic needs—from access to drinking water and electricity to the protection of lives from industrial exploitation and environmental destruction. As the country stands on the brink of a hotter-than-ever summer, the people—standing against oppression and incompetence—are entering a new phase of social upheaval.
