Three demonstrators were killed during protests against water shortages in southwestern Iran. The men, aged between 18 and 30, were fatally shot by gunfire by the Revolutionary Guard in Khuzestan province, activists reported on digital networks. Officials have only confirmed the death of 30-year-old Mostafa Naimavi, who was allegedly killed by "rioters" in the city of Shadegan, according to a spokesman for the governor's office. The other two fatalities are believed to be 18-year-old Ghasem Khozeiri and a young man named Ali Mazraeh, according to activists.

Iran is currently experiencing another severe wave of drought. Water shortages and power outages have occurred across the country in recent weeks, but the oil-rich province of Khuzestan has been hit particularly hard, with temperatures reaching 50 degrees. Outages also hit agriculture. Protests have been taking place in the region since Friday night, and there has also been talk of clashes between demonstrators and security forces and of arrests. Officially, this has not yet been confirmed.

Videos on online networks show protesters setting tires on fire to block roads. Security forces in many places tried to disperse the crowds with gunfire. In recent weeks, there have also been protests by thousands of workers in the key energy sector. They were demanding better wages and working conditions.