Southwest Iran’s Water Shortage Protests Draw More Apparent Gunfire

WASHINGTON - A series of water shortage protests that began last Thursday in Iran’s drought-stricken southwest appears to have drawn more gunfire from Iranian security forces.    

Videos posted to social media appeared to show street protests late Sunday in several parts of Iran’s Khuzestan province, including suburbs of the capital Ahvaz and the cities of Susangerd and Shush. VOA could not independently verify the clips as it is barred from reporting in Iran.    Additional footage posted on social media purported to show the Khuzestan protests extending into Monday night. VOA also could not independently verify those videos.  In one video shared by Washington-based group Human Rights Activists in Iran, which said it was filmed Sunday in Susangerd and obtained from an Iran-based source, a policeman appears to fire into the air and other shots can be heard as pedestrians and motorcyclists quickly scatter.