Clashes with protesters in Zayandeh Riverbed; Security situation reported in Isfahan
In the early hours of Thursday, Iranian security forces attacked those who had set up tents on the dry bed of the Zayandeh River in Isfahan to protest the drying up of the river, setting the tents on fire and forcibly expelling the protesters from the area.
In addition to farmers demanding their rights to agriculture, the public is also participating in protests against the government's mismanagement of water resources, which has caused the drying up of the Zayandeh River, the most abundant river in Iran's central plateau.
In recent days, the city of Isfahan has been the scene of one of the largest protest rallies in the last decade, with protesters accusing the government of "stealing" water from the Zayandeh Rood River.
Protesters have previously called for a large-scale demonstration at 9 a.m. Friday, asking everyone to gather in front of the Khaju Bridge, the Zayandeh Riverbed, and surrounding areas to protest the government's policies in this area.
However, security forces took precautions to prevent a large gathering like the one that occurred last Friday.
Last Friday, thousands of Isfahan residents joined farmers in protesting the twelfth day of water shortages, water supply management, and the lack of water rights allocation by gathering at the Zayandeh Riverbed.
According to news and videos published on social media, the atmosphere in Isfahan is extremely security-conscious on Thursday, and some reports indicate the arrest of a number of protesters.
In a video posted by the Sharq newspaper's Twitter account, a citizen of Isfahan says that at 7:00 AM, cleaners were cleaning up the remains of farmers' tents that had been set on fire the night before.
According to some reports, internet speeds have decreased in some areas and are disrupted in others.
Meanwhile, protests in Shahrekord over water shortages have entered their fifth day. Protesters in the city gathered in front of the governor's office to protest the government's water policy and called the government a "water mafia."
Source: Voice of America
