On April 1, 2025, farmers in Isfahan continued their protests demanding their share of water from the Zayandeh Rud River. The protests, which began on March 30, escalated as regime forces attempted to suppress the demonstrations with violent crackdowns.
The protesters, frustrated by years of broken promises and government neglect, chanted slogans such as “Death to [Mohammad Reza] Aref,” “We will reclaim our water, even if we die,” and “Zayandeh Rud water is our undeniable right.” The anger directed at Aref, Masoud Pezeshkian’s Vice President, reflects growing frustration with the entire clerical establishment’s failure to resolve the water crisis.
The protests in Isfahan are part of a broader wave of demonstrations across Iran, where various groups, including retirees, have expressed their frustration over economic grievances, environmental crises, and systematic repression.
Despite the heavy security presence and violent crackdowns, the farmers remain defiant, vowing to continue their struggle for their legitimate right to water from the Zayandeh Rud River.
More footage of the protest rally by farmers of Isfahan.#Iran #IranProtests pic.twitter.com/BylfWZebrE
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) April 1, 2025
This recent unrest mirrors the significant protests of November 2021, when tens of thousands gathered on the dry bed of the Zayandeh Rud River in Isfahan. During those demonstrations, farmers and supporters voiced their frustration over water mismanagement and diversion policies that had led to the river’s drying. The 2021 protests were met with a heavy-handed response from security forces, including the use of tear gas and arrests, further fueling public dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the water crisis.
The recurring protests underscore the deepening water crisis in Iran and the regime’s inability to implement effective solutions. Farmers in Isfahan and other regions continue to face severe challenges due to water shortages, exacerbating tensions between the populace and authorities.
Meanwhile, retirees also held protests in Rasht on March 31 against economic hardships and government corruption. They chanted slogans denouncing the clerical regime’s plunder of public resources.