Iran Blames US for Water Shortage in Southern Region... Pushes Back Against UN Criticism of Protest Crackdown

Four People Dead in Hujeestanju Protests Since the 15th

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] Iran claimed that the southern Khuzestan Province is experiencing a water shortage due to drought and U.S. sanctions.

On the 25th (local time), the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized in a statement that the water shortage in the southern region is caused by the severe drought this year and the U.S. sanctions that have blocked investment in water resources. Saeed Khatibzadeh, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responded, “The UN’s criticism of the water shortage in Khuzestan Province is baseless and politically biased.”

The reason Iran lashed out at the UN is because it was criticized to focus on the water shortage instead of suppressing protesters. On the 23rd, Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated, “Iran should resolve the chronic water shortage in Khuzestan Province instead of suppressing protesters,” adding, “Shooting and arresting citizens only fuels desperation and anger.”

Spokesperson Khatibzadeh questioned the UN statement, saying, “Why does the UN not criticize the blatant and illegal U.S. sanctions that have caused the humanitarian crisis within Iran?”

Residents of Khuzestan Province expressed their dissatisfaction by taking to the streets after even the tap water was cut off amid recent heat reaching 50 degrees Celsius. On the 17th, during intense protests in Shadegan, an 18-year-old man was shot and killed while protesting. Major foreign media reported that four people have died in the Khuzestan Province protests that have continued since the 15th. Local security authorities stated that two people were shot by rioters’ bullets the day before; one died, and another sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and is receiving treatment.