TEHRAN: A demonstrator was shot dead during protests against water shortages in drought-hit southwestern Iran, state media reported Saturday, with officials blaming the death on 鈥渙pportunists and rioters鈥�.
The demonstrator was killed in the Khuzestan province town of Shadegan, the official IRNA news agency said.
鈥淟ast night (Friday), a number of Shadegan鈥檚 people had gathered to protest water shortages due to the drought, during which opportunists and rioters shot dead one of the demonstrators,鈥� the county鈥檚 acting governor, Omid Sabripour, told IRNA.

Street protests broke out overnight over severe water shortages in Iran鈥檚 oil-rich southwest, according to Iranian news outlets and videos posted on social media on Friday, as the country faces its worst drought in 50 years.

Videos showed protesters setting fire to tyres to block a road and security forces were seen trying to disperse the crowds as some shots were heard. Reuters could not independently verify the videos鈥� authenticity.

鈥淪tate television should report what we are saying and show the image of the buffaloes that perished from lack of water,鈥� an elderly protester said on a video carried by the regional Asrejonoob news website.

In May, Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian warned of water shortages in the summer, saying this year was 鈥渙ne of the driest in 50 years鈥�.

The water shortages have led to power blackouts and there were protest marches in several cities last week. During some protests, people vented their anger with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, chanting 鈥淒eath to the dictator鈥� and 鈥淒eath to Khamenei鈥�. read more 

In recent weeks, thousands of workers in Iran鈥檚 key energy sector have held protests, seeking better wages and working conditions in southern gas fields and some refineries in big cities. read more 

Iran鈥檚 economy has tanked due to the impact of U.S. sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic. Nowhere in the Middle East has been hit harder by the virus than Iran.

Protests by workers and pensioners have been almost unrelenting for months, with discontent growing over an economy that is suffering inflation of more than 50%, high unemployment, with some workers complaining that their wages are not being paid.