Iran’s southwest region has been rocked by four consecutive nights of protests over access to clean drinking water. According to activists, three people have been killed so far in the oil-rich region of Khuzestan, which is home to a sizable ethnic Arab minority. 

According to Human Rights news agency, the protests have been centered in the cities of Susangerd and Ahvaz. Security forces have reportedly fired on protesters in the city of Susangerd. According to Human Rights news agency other cities have joined the protest in support of Khuzestan, including the city of Mashhad in northeast Iran. In total over a dozen cities in the province have protested the lack of clean drinking water in the last four days.

In response to the protests authorities have shut down the internet in the area leading to an almost total internet shutdown in Khuzestan.

Various officials from different government agencies have vowed to address the issue of access to clean water in the province. President Hassan Rouhani said that he has ordered a special line of credit to be given to the province in order to address the water shortage, which he said was a result of a drought and extreme warm weather that has affected the entire country.