Fake news bill outcry, protests continue—and more
The Iranist for the week of August 1, 2025
THE هفت/SEVEN THINGS TO KNOW THIS WEEK:
۱/1 Water and electricity shortages continue
On July 28, Tehran Water and Wastewater Company director Mohsen Ardakani warned that “day zero”—the point at which the capital’s reservoirs run dry—is fast approaching and urged residents to cut off their consumption by at least 20 percent to stave off the crisis (Al-Monitor). Similar comments were made to CNN about “day zero” by Kaveh Madani, director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (and former deputy head of Iran’s Department of Environment).
Iran is currently in its fifth consecutive year of drought. Decades of poor water management by the Islamic Republic, including the overdevelopment of urban areas and excessive dam construction, have been exacerbated by climate change, contributing to the dire water crisis the country is currently facing.
The water and electricity shortages are already having a significant impact on daily life and the economy. Businesses are laying off workers, families are forced to collect water in jugs and bottles, and households face financial strain due to damaged electronics and spoiled food resulting from power outages (IranWire).
In Tehran, residents report extremely low water pressure—making it difficult to flush toilets, wash dishes, or do laundry. For the first time in the capital’s history, water tankers have been dispatched to supply neighborhoods (New York Times/CNN). The crisis has also triggered a surge in demand for household water pumps and storage tanks, with sellers reportedly charging up to 50 percent more or refusing to sell equipment altogether (IranWire).
In a city council meeting this week, Tehran council member Mehdi Kashani invoked images from Gaza to urge solidarity and conservation:
“Last night, I saw a father in Gaza moisten his baby’s lips with saliva. Since we can’t help practically, let's at least show solidarity by drinking one less glass of water a day.” (Al-Monitor)
On July 31, President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a stark warning:
“In Tehran, if we cannot manage and people do not cooperate in controlling consumption, there won’t be any water in dams by September or October.” (Reuters)
The worsening shortages have sparked public unrest. Last week, protests erupted in the northeastern city of Sabzevar in Razavi Khorasan province due to water and electricity shortages. This week, protests erupted in other cities, including the northern cities of Khomam and Khoshk‑e Bijar in Gilan province (Iran International). Some of the chants by protesters included, “Incompetent officials, we don’t want you!” and “Water, power, life: our absolute rights.”
۲/2 Controversial cyber bill withdrawn after public outcry
The “Bill on Combating the Spread of False News Content in Cyberspace,” introduced by the judiciary under the Masoud Pezeshkian government, is widely viewed as a tool to crush dissent following the 12-day war, during which at least 301 people were arrested for their social media posts (CHRI). The bill extends beyond traditional media to include individuals, social media influencers (those with 90,000 followers), and online platforms such as Instagram, Telegram, X, and YouTube. As the Center for Human Rights warns, the bill could “turn almost any online expression into a punishable offense under the guise of combating ‘fake news’” with penalties reaching up to 15 years in prison.
۳/3 Two Iranian-Americans arrested amongst Jewish community crackdown
۴/4 Conference on democratic transition held in Germany
On July 26, some 500 exiled activists, public figures, former political prisoners, members of civil society, artists, athletes, wounded protesters (including from the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom uprising), and mothers of victims of state atrocities reportedly gathered in Munich, Germany at the “National Cooperation to Save Iran” conference, convened by former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi (Kayhan Life/Iran International). Video messages were also delivered by Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi, legendary singer Googoosh, and former Queen Farah Pahlavi. You can watch the full conference here (in Persian).
The conference was not without some controversy, however. One former protester drew attention for prostrating before the former crown prince, prompting online criticism (X/X). Additionally, some invitees declined their invitations because they viewed the conference on democratic transition as not having an “inclusive and diverse organizing committee,” an observation made by dissident lawyer Mehran Barati (and shared on Instagram by human rights lawyer Mehrangiz Kar). Still, Pahlavi described the event as one of the most diverse anti-regime gatherings held outside Iran since the 1979 revolution (Politico).
The conference reportedly agreed on three core principles: preserving Iran’s territorial integrity, protecting individual liberties and the equality of all citizens, and the separation of religion and state (Kayhan Life).
Meanwhile, Pahlavi stated that more than 50,000 Iranian officials registered via a QR code advertised on Iran International to coordinate the ousting of the Islamic Republic (Politico). He told Politico that “the numbers still needed to be fully verified but his team were working to establish links with key elements in Iran’s military, paramilitary and security forces, who would play a potential role toppling Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and working to establish a new secular state.”
۵/5 FM says US must agree to compensation before talks
On July 28, US President Donald Trump said during a presser in Scotland alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer:
"We wiped out their nuclear possibilities. They can start again. If they do, we’ll wipe it out faster than you can wave your finger at it. We will do that gladly, openly and gladly.” (Al Jazeera)
On the same day, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded on X:
“If aggression is repeated, we will not hesitate to react in a more decisive manner and in a way that will be IMPOSSIBLE to cover up.”
Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency is scheduled to visit Iran in the next two weeks (Reuters).
۶/6 Belgian MP of Iranian heritage target of kidnapping plot
On July 14, a group of fourteen countries—including Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States—released a joint statement on transnational repression:
“We are united in our opposition to the attempts of Iranian intelligence services to kill, kidnap, and harass people in Europe and North America in clear violation of our sovereignty. These services are increasingly collaborating with international criminal organizations to target journalists, dissidents, Jewish citizens, and current and former officials in Europe and North America. This is unacceptable.” (usembassy.gov)
۷/7 Shipping empire run by Shamkhani’s son slapped with US sanctions
OTHER اخبار/NEWS THAT MADE HEADLINES:
Human Rights
۰ Prisoner executed in Adelabad Prison of Shiraz (HRANA)
۰ Iran: Horrifying secret executions amid mounting political
repression (Amnesty International)
۰ Women prisoners protest executions at prison (IranWire)
۰ Authorities amputate three prisoners’ fingers in acts of torture (Human Rights Watch)
۰ Elementary teacher arrested by IRGC intelligence (IranWire)
۰ Sister of slain protester jailed after week of interrogation (IranWire)
۰ Kurdish man shot dead by police as brother escapes raid (IranWire)
۰ Family seeks public execution for daughter’s killer in Tehran court (IranWire)
۰ Wait to speak to hostage parents ‘intolerable’ (BBC News)
۰ Authorities tortured British couple in prison, source says (Iran International)
۰ Iran drives out 1.5 million Afghans, with some branded spies for Israel (BBC News)
Domestic Issues
۰ Iran executes 2 opposition members over alleged attacks on civilian sites (AP)
۰ Tehran court sentences man to death for beauty salon worker murder (IranWire)
۰ Third environmental activist dies from wildfire burns (IranWire)
۰ ‘The air we breathe smells like oil’: Annual Marsh Fires Choke Province (IranWire)
۰ Guards-linked media slams dog and cat imports, calls for ban (Iran International)
۰ Iran’s leaders reach back to pre-Islamic times to stoke nationalism (Washington Post)
Foreign Policy + Security
۰ Iran says it thwarted regime change plots by sprawling cabal (Iran International)
۰ Iran hiring criminal networks in Europe to attack Jews, US religious freedom report finds (Jerusalem Post)
۰ General was chased down and killed by Israeli agents, daughter says (Iran International)
۰ President praises missile forces after 12-day war (IranWire)
۰ Security agencies may face imminent changes, report says (IranWire)
۰ Russia says it’s worried about threat of new strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities (Reuters)
۰ Iran ‘interjected themselves’ into latest Hamas ceasefire talks, says Trump (Times of Israel)
۰ Quds Force chief held secret meetings with Iraqi Shiite leaders (Shafaq News)
۰ Russian rocket launches Iran satellite into space: Iranian media (Al Jazeera)
۰ At least six civilians killed in militant attack on courthouse in southeast Iran (The Guardian)
۰ Iranian president to arrive in Pakistan tomorrow on state visit to discuss ties (Arab News)
Iran Deal + Sanctions
۰ Iran tells E3 it may leave nuclear treaty if sanctions return (Iran International)
۰ Tehran moderates urge US talks to avert collapse, hardliners cry betrayal (Iran International)
۰ Khamenei accuses West of using nuclear demands as excuse for confrontation (Times of Israel)
۰ China uses “dark fleet” to buy oil from Iran and evade US sanctions in international waters (CBS News)