Iranian people are simultaneously grappling with three major crises: Covid-19 outbreak, extensive blackout, and water shortages. Yet, these crises, along with other economic and social crises, are increasing society’s restiveness.
Iran’s state media in recent days warned officials of the consequences of these crises.
“Power outages are linked to many other things. Workers’ strikes in various sectors seeking better wages and benefits, but their voices are not heard, or the water crisis in deprived areas of Sistan and Baluchestan alongside the rise of the coronavirus. Instead, some officials even try to deny reports and images of the deprivation and water shortages of these deprived areas, saying that everything is the propaganda of the opposition,” wrote the state-run Arman-e Meli daily on Tuesday.
“Officials continue their bogus claims in front of the camera. But when the nation questions them for not just shortcomings, but mismanagement, [these officials] throw the ball in each other’s court. The Parliament’s speaker expresses concern about blackouts, and the Minister of Health only complains,” Arman-e Meli added.
“In this dire situation of power outages, lack of vaccination, and ignoring people and workers strikes, there are officials who only worry about ‘safeguarding the cyberspace’ plan and restricting the internet. They have gathered to deprive people of their only right, saying they would ratify this plan at any costs,” Arman-e Meili wrote.
While referring to the recent major boycott f the regime’s sham elections, Arman-e Meli wrote, “What people face now is the worse prospect from today and ears that do not want to hear. Hopefully, before it becomes too late and flood washes away [officials], they react.”
In an article on July 6, the state-run Mardom-Salarie daily referred to the current situation as the “triangle of crises.”
“There is no time to blame anyone. People are used to mismanagement. They have different crises. After a year and a half, the Covid-19 fifth wave is coming. While many neighboring countries have started massive vaccinations, we only hear hollow promises in Iran,” Mardom-Salarie acknowledged.
“The vaccination process is advancing most hopelessly. Water shortages are another problem that expands daily. Not enough electricity is produced. Besides, the country is dealing with legal and illegal mining farms of cryptocurrency that consume a large part of the country’s electricity. This triangle of crises has made life impossible.” Mardom Salarie acknowledged.
“In big cities and the capital, power outages mean disruptions to the entire life system. Not only do air conditioners turn off, but blackouts in some apartments cause water outages, power outages in elevators, disconnect telephones, cell phones, and the internet, disrupting the financial systems,” Mardom Salarie adds.
“In areas like Khuzestan, where there has been a water crisis for years, people can no longer find these days the same water full of salt, and people live in the worst conditions. Covid-19 crisis in Sistan and Baluchestan has been accompanied by a shortage of water and electricity and has created dangerous conditions in this province,” Mardom Salarie acknowledged.
“The government has created crises in the country. The social structures enter one crisis after another. One day onions become a crisis and a national issue in the country; the next day, chicken, the next day eggs, the next day tomatoes, the next day cucumbers. Then it is the electricity, water, internet, and similar issues,” wrote the state-run Javan daily on Tuesday.
The state-run Vatan-e Emrooz warned on Tuesday that “anger and blackouts, suspicious mismanagements in the last days of Hassan Rouhani’s government have accumulated people’s anger.”
