A senior Iranian official said a recent missile strike on Israel by Iran-backed Houthis had shaken Israel’s psychological security and demonstrated the growing strength of Tehran’s regional allies.
“The missiles from Sanaa targeting Ben Gurion [Airport] shook Israel’s psychological security,” Ali Shamkhani, an advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, wrote Tuesday on X.
He described the attack as “a strategic blow to the delusion of the Resistance’s collapse,” using the term Iran applies to a network of allied armed groups across the region, including in Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq, and Yemen. “The front now holds the initiative, with an ever-growing presence from Lebanon and Gaza to Iraq and Sanaa,” Shamkhani said.
The missile, fired from Yemen by the Iran-backed group, landed near the main terminal of Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday morning, according to Israeli authorities.
Severe weather events, including strong winds and lightning, have resulted in the deaths of nine people and injuries to 86 others across Iran over the past week, the national emergency services said on Tuesday.
Babak Yektaparast, a spokesperson for the country's emergency services, told Tasnim news agency that the casualties occurred between April 27th and May 5th. He specified that four deaths were due to strong winds and falling objects, while five people were killed by lightning strikes.
Iranian authorities have ordered the closure of the country's sole national Water Museum to accommodate the relocation of the Quran Museum, a move that has sparked strong criticism from museum experts and staff, according to an Iranian daily.
The report in Payam-e Ma said that the decision, approved by President Masoud Pezeshkian, directs the Water Museum in Tehran’s historic Sa’dabad Palace complex to vacate its building so that the National Quran Museum—currently located in central Tehran—can be moved in.
The order came without public notice and was issued after the Iranian New Year holidays in early April, according to the report.
Museum workers were caught off guard as government officials suddenly removed signage and sealed the building.
Shahrokh Karimi, head of the National Water Treasure Institute that manages the museum, told the paper: “We worked hard for 30 years. It is heartbreaking to see it dismantled overnight.”
He warned that the move would erase a rare cultural institution dedicated to Iran’s water engineering and environmental heritage.
The Water Museum, established in 1996 through a government partnership between Iran’s energy ministry and cultural heritage authorities, showcased ancient irrigation techniques, historical engineering documents, and educational displays.
It has been part of a broader effort to preserve the country’s “water memory” amid growing environmental concerns.
Ahmad Mohit-Tabatabai, head of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in Iran, criticized the relocation.
“Closing or moving a national museum is among the worst things that can happen in museology,” he said, warning that the Quran Museum’s needs are not compatible with the Water Museum’s small facilities.
In recent years, Iran has been selling off ancient heritage sites amid the country's financial crisis with historians accusing the government of abandoning the country's rich history.
Last year there was public outcry when the government announced the construction of mosques in public parks, as the Islamic Republic's agenda is seen as eroding the country's environmental heritage.
A senior Iranian lawmaker said recent arrests of Iranian nationals in the UK are part of a coordinated effort by Western powers to pressure Tehran during sensitive nuclear negotiations.
Mohsen Salimi, a member of parliament’s presiding board, accused Britain and other European governments of using terrorism and human rights charges to extract political concessions. “This is part of a division of labor between the US and Europe to make things more difficult for the Islamic Republic as nuclear talks continue,” he said in comments published by the parliament-affiliated Khaneh Mellat news agency.
British counter-terrorism police said over the weekend they had arrested seven Iranian nationals in two separate, unconnected operations. Four men were detained under the Terrorism Act on suspicion of plotting an attack in England, while three others were arrested under new national security laws related to suspected foreign state activity. All remain in custody.
“These accusations are just tools for political blackmail,” Salimi said. “They aim to create consensus against Iran and increase pressure at the negotiating table.”
He added that European countries “are in no position to act as standard-bearers of human rights or counter-terrorism,” pointing to what he called their history of “destabilizing interventions.”
UK officials have accused Iran of sponsoring or planning threats on British soil. In October, MI5 said it had disrupted 20 plots linked to Tehran since early 2022.
Iran's navy chief said Tuesday that the country’s expanding maritime capabilities are aimed at bolstering deterrence, emphasizing Iran’s readiness to confront external threats.
“Our objective is to strengthen deterrence,” Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said at a Teacher’s Day event at the Naval University in Nowshahr. “Even with small boats, Iranian youth will stand firm against the Great Satan,” he added, using Tehran’s term for the United States.
He also pointed to Iran’s missile capabilities: “With just two missiles, our youth have stood against hundreds.
Iranian officials are sounding alarms over a deepening water crisis that has already affected nearly four dozen major dams, threatened electricity production, and forced Tehran into rolling blackouts.
Somayeh Rafiei, the head of the environment faction in Iran’s Parliament, warned on Tuesday that “the water situation in 44 of the country’s dams is critical,” adding that this has directly impacted hydroelectric power generation, putting spring and summer electricity supply under serious strain.
According to Rafiei, water inflow to dam reservoirs from the beginning of the current hydrological year (which began in September) has dropped by 37% compared to the same period last year. The total volume of water in reservoirs is also down 18% from a year ago and 15% below the five-year average.
“The situation of five dams in Tehran province is especially alarming,” Rafiei said. “Only 24% of their capacity is filled, and upstream snow reserves – a crucial source for replenishment – have declined between 47% and 54% year-on-year.”
She also raised concerns over the Urmia Lake basin in northwestern Iran, where dam fill levels have declined 36% from last year. “We are looking at hard days ahead for Lake Urmia,” she warned.
A view from Lake Urmia
The crisis is exacerbated by climate change, mismanagement in agriculture, outdated irrigation techniques, and a failure to invest in water recycling or secure regional water diplomacy, Rafiei said.
She painted a dire picture of groundwater depletion, noting that 30 of Iran’s 31 provinces are experiencing land subsidence due to unchecked groundwater extraction. “This is a systemic failure of regulation,” she said.
Rafiei also pointed to environmental degradation, saying that 66% of the country’s wetlands have dried up and become new sources of dust storms.
The hydropower sector is reeling, with over 12,500 megawatts of capacity affected. “As temperatures rise, electricity production becomes increasingly unstable due to the country’s energy imbalance and lack of investment in renewable infrastructure,” she said. “There is no solution right now except widespread compliance with consumption guidelines.”
Rafiei said the situation requires the Ministry of Energy and provincial governors to immediately implement real-time monitoring across all public institutions and government-affiliated companies, including mandatory installation of smart meters and online tracking systems.
“We cannot demand conservation from ordinary citizens while leaving high-consumption government bodies unchecked,” she said.
Blackouts return to Tehran
The capital began scheduled power outages again this week, according to a notice issued by the Tehran Electricity Distribution Company, following unannounced outages in neighboring towns.
The return of outages coincides with a heatwave that has sharply driven up water usage.
Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi confirmed that annual renewable water resources have dropped by 37%, from 103 billion to 66 billion cubic meters – a drastic fall from the historical high of 130 billion.
Speaking at a national meeting with water and wastewater officials, Aliabadi said: “We are facing a global water crisis. The Middle East is at its epicenter, and Iran’s situation is increasingly concerning.”
He warned that rising urban populations in Tehran and other large cities are intensifying pressure on water supplies, and stressed the need for urgent investments in water recycling and desalination technologies.
“In many cities, treated drinking water is still used for irrigating green spaces. That is no longer acceptable,” he said.
Aliabadi cited a 7°C increase in Iran’s average temperature over the past two years – a result of a 4.5°C rise this year on top of 2.5°C last year. This spike has further fueled water consumption, particularly through evaporative coolers.
Meanwhile, many of Iran’s authorized wells have dried up, including those with depths of as much as 150 meters.
“Water is an intergenerational asset, and its management demands strategic decisions,” Aliabadi said.
A hard water year ahead
Deputy Energy Minister Mohammad Javanbakht echoed the warnings, saying: “After years of consecutive droughts, this will be one of the toughest years for Iran’s water sector.”
He cited over 40% drought conditions nationwide, declining reservoir levels, and the drying of key water bodies, including many reservoirs at or below critical thresholds.
“The drinking water situation in cities like Tehran is already difficult, and agricultural restrictions may spark social tensions,” he warned.
While acknowledging some prior attempts at groundwater rebalancing and drought adaptation, Javanbakht admitted the measures had limited impact.
Javanbakht also highlighted the economic strain on the water sector. “There are nearly 5,670 water projects across the country, and securing funds for them in the current economic climate is incredibly challenging,” he said.
He called for tariff reforms, public education, and stronger integration of social and environmental concerns into water infrastructure planning.
Tehran’s water use surges
Recent data from the Tehran Water and Wastewater Company shows a worrying trend with the capital experiencing one of its driest years in recent decades, annual rainfall now below 140 millimeters.
Despite this, water consumption surged past 3.1 million cubic meters per day in early May – largely attributed to the use of swamp coolers, which consume up to 30 liters of water per hour per unit.
Officials have called on citizens to reduce their cooling system usage and improve efficiency, including installing shades and conducting regular maintenance.
Water authorities have threatened punitive measures will follow what they consider to be overuse, warning that persistent heavy users may even face 12-hour service cuts.
As Iran braces for a long, hot summer, officials agree: behavioral change is not optional.
“Without a significant shift in how we consume and manage water, this crisis will only deepen,” Minister Aliabadi warned.
