Iran – Sabzevar: Second Night of Protests Against Water and Power Outages

Maryam Rajavi: Like so many of Iran’s resources, the country’s water supplies have not been spared from the plunder and corruption of the clerical regime. The only path to salvation is a nationwide uprising for regime change.

On Monday and Tuesday, July 21 and 22, 2025, due to water and electricity outages, exasperated citizens took to the streets in several cities in protest. In Sabzevar, on Tuesday night, for the second consecutive night, angry residents held demonstrations. The protest began at Farmandari Square and Abouzar Street, and protesters blocked Bahonar Street. Women were at the forefront of the rally, chanting slogans such as: “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid, we’re all in this together,” “Water, electricity, and life are our basic rights,” and “We don’t want incompetent officials.”

Stat Security Force (SSF) and plainclothes agents attempted to disperse the crowd with threats and physical assaults. SSf responded with tear gas, and the protesters countered with chants of “Shame on you! Shame on you!”

As the unprecedented heatwave continues, the clerical regime, incapable of resolving the water and electricity crisis, has resorted to shutting down offices, banks, government institutions, and educational centers. According to a map published by regime-affiliated media, 24 out of Iran’s 31 provinces will be closed on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.

The Water and Wastewater Company announced that Tehran is experiencing the worst water resource situation in the past 100 years. The Mamloo Dam will go offline in September, and subsequently, the Lar, Latian, and Karaj dams will also be unable to supply water. (Asr-e Iran – July 21, 2025)

The regime-affiliated Ham-Mihan newspaper, in its July 20 edition, pointed to the economic and social consequences of power outages, stating: “This situation has endangered the lives of thousands of people. Beyond economic damage, we must also expect social harm… they are a powder keg that will not be ignited by a mere spark, but by the absence of electricity.”

In such circumstances, Fatemeh Mohajerani, the spokesperson for regime president Masoud Pezeshkian, shamelessly suggested a “solution” to the crisis, stating: “In any case, summer is the season of travel… it’s a chance for people to catch their breath. We are aware of the people’s economic struggles, but still, despite these conditions, many traveled during the New Year holidays.” (State-run Student News Network – July 22, 2025)

Despite the massive crisis surrounding water and electricity, Hamid Pourmohammadi, head of the Planning and Budget Organization, admitted: “Under these circumstances, strengthening the country’s defense capability remains the top priority of the entire system. The government, parliament, and judiciary are all pursuing this matter.” (Tasnim – July 21, 2025)

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), saluted the pioneering women and the risen people of Sabzevar and called on residents of other cities, especially Tehran, to rise up and protest the water and electricity outages. She stated: “Like so many of Iran’s resources, the country’s water supplies have not been spared from the plunder and corruption of the clerical regime and its brutal IRGC enforcers. Power and water outages during the scorching summer have created unbearable conditions for deprived communities and ruined the livelihoods of countless people. The reckless exploitation of water resources by industries serving the IRGC, the overuse of underground water, and the construction of dams benefiting regime-affiliated and IRGC-owned complexes have pushed even Iran’s water-rich regions into crisis. The only path to salvation is a nationwide uprising for regime change — to establish democracy, justice, and the will of the people.”

Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)

23 July 2025

Map of Nationwide Shutdowns