Government forces fired tear gas at protesters in Sabzevar, northeast Iran, on Tuesday night as demonstrations over prolonged blackouts and water shortages entered a second consecutive day.
Crowds chanted “Shameless, shameless” after the crackdown, according to footage sent to Iran International.
Residents rallied outside the Sabzevar governorate, denouncing outages that have paralyzed daily life amid extreme heat. Videos show men and women shouting, “If we don’t get our rights, we won’t leave,” along with “Only the streets will give us our rights” and “Water, electricity, life—our absolute rights.”
Officials have blamed the crisis on “unprecedented drought.” Iran is experiencing its second-driest year in five decades, with rainfall down 43% from last year. Major dams, particularly those supplying Tehran, are at critically low levels.
In Tehran, residents in districts including Pounak, Amirabad, and Pardis shouted “Death to Khamenei” and “Death to the dictator” from their windows during extended outages. In Sadra, near Shiraz, demonstrators echoed the same chants late Tuesday.
In an unusual move, Tehran’s Water Company announced plans to distribute plastic-bagged water—then withdrew the statement hours later without explanation.
Government data shows 24 of Iran’s 31 provinces are under water stress, affecting cities such as Tehran, Mashhad, Tabriz, and Isfahan.
On Wednesday, amid rising public anger, authorities declared a holiday in 23 provinces, citing “heat and energy management.” Other regions cut working hours to mornings only.
Years of sanctions, aging infrastructure, and mismanagement have strained Iran’s energy systems, with summer blackouts a recurring pattern.
But conditions appear to have worsened following last month’s 12-day war with Israel. Iranians report more frequent and severe outages on the back of a surge in use as more people were forced to stay at home amid the government shutdowns.
Hardline Tehran MP Amirhossein Sabeti warned Wednesday that without major water savings, shutdowns may extend through summer, potentially closing the capital for up to four days a week.
“If necessary, every week may be off from Tuesday or Wednesday [until Saturday],” he said, suggesting the goal is to drive residents out of the city to cut demand.
The IRGC-linked Moj News acknowledged the toll of the crisis, warning that shortages are damaging mental health, fraying family life, and fueling tensions between communities.
The outlet said growing competition for access to water is already triggering local disputes, and without urgent management, broader social unrest could follow.
