Protests continue in Khuzestan; US: We are monitoring reports of shooting at protesters
Protests over water shortages in a number of cities in Khuzestan continued for the seventh consecutive night on Wednesday, July 20.
Meanwhile, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Wednesday that the United States is monitoring reports of shootings at protesters in Khuzestan.
According to videos and news published on social media, demonstrations have been held in the cities of Ahvaz, Shadegan, Susangerd, Masjed Soleiman, Elhayi, Behbahan, and Dezful.
These protests took place in the cities of Khuzestan, while the provincial prosecutor's office warned on Wednesday evening that it would resolutely confront "any creation of insecurity, instability, and disruption" of public order.
As protests continue in a number of cities in Khuzestan and outside the province, reports of internet disruptions and outages have been published in the cities that are the focus of recent protests.
Netblocks, which monitors internet restrictions around the world, confirmed on Wednesday that significant mobile internet disruptions continued in Iran's Khuzestan province.
In images said to be from Ahvaz, hundreds of citizens of the city demonstrated and marched on one of the streets of the city.
In other images released from the city, protesters have blocked some streets by burning tires.
A number of Ahvaz citizens have said that electricity was cut off in parts of the city of Ahvaz on Thursday morning.
In the city of Shadegan, protesters chanted the slogan "Screams from humiliation" in the streets of the city.
Also, in videos released from the city of Shavur, southeast of Susa, Daniel, gunfire can be heard.
Meanwhile, videos have been released showing shops being set on fire in the city of Susangerd. A Susangerd resident says in the video that government forces are setting fire to shops and people's property.
In videos released from Masjid Suleiman, citizens chanted the slogan "Bakhtiari with zeal, unity, unity."
Continuous water and electricity outages in Iran, along with the warming weather, have led to scattered protests in various parts of Iran, but protests have spread in Khuzestan Province since last week and are still ongoing.
In addition to protesting the lack of water, protesters in various cities are also chanting slogans against Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, and against the Islamic Republic’s system. In response, and according to videos released from various cities, security and law enforcement forces are confronting protesters “with violence and shooting.” The Iranian State Radio and Television Agency confirmed on Wednesday that a protester was killed in Izeh.
Since the start of widespread protests in Khuzestan last week, unofficial reports have been published that "at least five people" have been killed in these protests, but official authorities have only confirmed the killing of two young protesters in these protests, while at the same time attributing it to "rioters."
US: We are monitoring the protests in Khuzestan
Meanwhile, Ned Price has said that the United States is monitoring reports of shootings of protesters in Khuzestan.
"We support the right of Iranians to peacefully assemble and express their views. Iranians, like everyone else, should exercise this right without fear of violence or arbitrary detention by security forces," the US State Department spokesperson said in a press conference.
Ned Price stated, "We are closely following reports of protests in Iran's Khuzestan province, including reports of security forces shooting protesters."
Source: Radio Farda
