Water Crisis Sparks Protests, Hardships in Crimea, Iran

Iran is facing a severe water and electricity crisis exacerbated by prolonged drought, climate change, and government mismanagement, leading to widespread public unrest and economic disruption. In Tehran, the capital with 15 million residents, water shortages are so critical that relocation is being considered, while many reservoirs have fallen below 10% capacity or dried up entirely. The crisis has prompted mass protests in several cities, including Sabzevar, where residents, especially women, have rallied against power outages and water scarcity despite repression by security forces. Government offices, schools, and factories have been closed across many provinces to conserve resources, further deepening economic hardship and risking widespread layoffs and business closures. Critics blame the ruling regime for corruption and failure to address systemic water management issues, while experts warn that the crisis is a profound social, economic, and security problem requiring structural reforms and tough decisions. This escalating crisis contrasts with the situation in occupied Crimea, where water shortages also trigger protests but are compounded by military prioritization and Russian occupation policies.