Iran: nearly 70 arrests during a rally against the drying up of a river – Franceinfo

A fight for water. Iranian police announced on Saturday (November 27) the arrest of nearly 70 people the day after a rally against the drying up of an emblematic river in Isfahan, in the center of the country.

For more than two weeks, demonstrations have been organized by residents of the third largest city in the country, who denounce the terrible drought that has hit the region for years. They also blame the authorities for diverting water from the city to supply the neighboring province of Yazd, which is also in dire need of water.

For the first time on Friday, the demonstration was accompanied by clashes between the police and protesters. Police fired tear gas canisters at protesters who responded with stone throws, according to the Fars news agency.

In response, the United States said to itself “deeply worried” of the “violent repression” who fell down on demonstrators “peaceful”, the State Department spokesman said.

The Zayandeh-Roud river which crosses Isfahan has been dry since 2000, except for a few brief periods. Arid country, Iran has experienced chronic drought for years, resulting in regular flooding caused by the combination of hardening of the soil and more or less violent rainfall.