Tehran water woes, plot to assassinate Israeli ambassador—and more
The Iranist for the week of November 7, 2025
THE هفت/SEVEN THINGS TO KNOW THIS WEEK:
۱/1 Tehran is running out of water
On November 2, the Director of the Tehran water company, Behzad Parsa, warned that the capital’s main source of drinking water could run out in 15 days (AFP). The Amir Kabir Dam—one of five reservoirs supplying Tehran with drinking water— holds just 14 million cubic meters of water (3.7 billion gallons)—eight percent of its capacity. A year ago, it held 86 million cubic meters (22.7 billion gallons), but the region has experienced a “100 percent drop in precipitation.”
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.
On November 4, Director General of the National Water and Wastewater Management Office Ali Seyedzadeh said two-thirds of the country’s dam capacity is empty and that 20 out of Iran’s 31 provinces have not seen rain since the start of the new Iranian calendar year in March.
On November 6, President Masoud Pezeshkian called the water crisis “alarming,” warning:
“If it doesn’t rain, we will have to start restricting water supplies in Tehran next month. If the drought continues, we will run out of water and be forced to evacuate the city,” referring to Tehran (Anadolu Agency).
He had issued a similar stark warning in late July:
“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)
Meanwhile, the Gulf of Gorgan on the southern Caspian Sea is “taking its last breaths.” (Iran International)
۲/2 #OmidSarlak killed
On October 31, anti-regime activist and aviation student Omid Sarlak posted an Instagram story video in which he burned a photo of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei while playing a recording of ousted Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in the background (AFP/X). Hours later, on November 1, Sarlak—reported to be between the ages of 25 and 27 and a supporter of the toppled monarchy—was found dead from a gunshot wound in Aligudarz, western Lorestan province. A police chief alleged that his body was found in a car with a self-inflicted wound and that he committed suicide (IranWire). However, many believe he was killed by the Islamic Republic.
Sarlak’s father posted a video saying “They killed my champion,” alleging that his son was “surrounded” in an underground passageway, killed, and a gun was placed next to him to make his death appear as a suicide (RFERL).
At Sarlak’s funeral on November 3, where hundreds gathered, mourners chanted, “They killed him,” “Death to Khamenei,” “Death to the dictator,” “We will kill whoever killed my brother,” and “This flower that has withered is a gift to the homeland.” (Iran International) Since his death, Iranians have posted videos on social media of themselves burning photos of the Supreme Leader in solidarity and protest against the clerical establishment (X/X).
In one of his Instagram stories, Sarlak had written:
“How long should we endure humiliation, poverty, and being ridden over? This is the moment to show yourself, young people. These clerics are nothing but a stream for Iran’s youth to cross.”
Sarlak’s death came as senior clerics renewed calls for severe punishment of those who insult or threaten the Supreme Leader, with Assembly of Experts member Ahmad Khatami saying such acts warrant the death penalty (Iran International).
On November 5, the State Department “strongly condemned” Sarlak’s “horrific death,” adding on social media:
“This is yet another example of the Iranian regime’s brutal suppression of dissent and its ongoing campaign to silence those who dare to speak out against them. The United States stands firmly with the Iranian people in their struggle for justice, dignity, and freedom.” (X)
۳/3 US official says Iran plotted to assassinate Israeli ambassador to Mexico
۴/4 ‘Iranians’ Attitudes Toward the 12-Day War’ survey out
NOTE: Measuring public opinion under an authoritarian government is inherently difficult, yet the poll still offers some interesting insights.
۵/5 This week marks 46 years since Iran hostage crisis
On November 4, marking the 444-day crisis, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a speech:
“Whenever America can, it acts. It supports those who attack us, it imposes sanctions, it even shoots down a passenger plane. The nature of arrogance and the nature of independence cannot coexist… America sometimes says it wants cooperation with Iran. Cooperation with Iran is incompatible with supporting [Israel]. If one day America abandons that regime, removes its military bases from the region and stops interference, then issues could be reviewed—but that time is not now.” (Iran International)
The comments appeared to be a response to US President Donald Trump’s CBS News 60 Minutes interview on October 31, where he said:
“Iran wants to make a deal. They don’t say that, and they probably shouldn’t say—no good dealmaker would. But Iran very much wants to make a deal.” (CBS News)
On November 6, Trump said that Tehran asked if US sanctions could be lifted (Reuters). The US president noted that he was “open to hearing that, and we’ll see what happens.”
۶/6 Two French nationals released from prison
Meanwhile, Iran sentenced a 70-year-old Iranian-American Jewish man to two years in prison (New York Times). Kamran Hekmati was arrested for visiting Israel 13 years ago to celebrate his son’s bar mitzvah, according to his family.
۷/7 Surge in executions may amount to crimes against humanity
OTHER اخبار/NEWS THAT MADE HEADLINES:
Human Rights
۰ Woman sentenced to death after 10-minute trial (IranWire)
۰ Child bride faces execution unless she pays £80,000 in ‘blood money’ (The Guardian)
۰ Prisoner dies after officials deny medical transfer despite heart emergency (IranWire)
۰ Lawyer faces charges for representing family of protester killed in 2022 (IranWire)
۰ Journalists’ group protests crackdown on media (IranWire)
۰ Iran charges journalist after criticism of political prisoner’s re-arrest (IranWire)
۰ Iran pressures family of exiled activist to force his return (IranWire)
۰ Iran shuts down oldest NGO supporting vulnerable children, detains founder (CHRI)
۰ As persecution of Christians intensifies, Tehran opens ‘Holy Mary’ metro station (RFERL)
۰ The doctor who saved a life but lost his freedom (IranWire)
۰ Transnational repression victim Jamshid Shahrmahd buried in Los Angeles (X)
Domestic Issues
۰ Iran grapples over social freedoms after war with Israel (Al Jazeera)
۰ Student sets himself on fire as officials demolish his family’s kiosk (IranWire)
۰ Hiker dies after being shot by security forces (IranWire)
۰ Writers and scholars arrested and held incommunicado in Iran (CHRI)
۰ Fire at oil refinery in Iran kills at least one person, state media says (Reuters)
Foreign Policy + Security
۰ US warns citizens against Iran travel after Tehran repatriation drive (Iran International)
۰ US revokes Green Card of wrestling chief Alireza Dabir (Iran International)
۰ Iranian-American poet’s son arrested over Detroit terror plot (Iran International)
۰ New York mayoral race becomes mirror for Iran’s political divides (Amwaj.media)
۰ Iran hackers taunted John Bolton about stolen files that were allegedly classified (Fox News)
۰ Oman urges Iran and US to resume nuclear talks (Iran International)
۰ Iran ‘not in hurry’ to resume nuclear talks with US (Al Jazeera)
۰ Iran says Tehran-Washington message exchanges continue, not talks (Iran International)
۰ Is Russia seeking Iranian buy-in on post-Assad Syria? (Amwaj.media
۰ Iran denies arms deliveries from China, Russia amid procurement reports (Al-Monitor)
۰ Ex-Hamas chief killed by missile that tracked his cellphone, Iran says (Times of Israel)
۰ Why Iraq’s election is Iran’s last, best hedge (RFERL)
۰ Iran revives cross-border rail projects in bid to anchor Eurasian trade routes (Al-Monitor)
۰ Iran appoints official accused of Argentina bombing as deputy military chief (Iran International)
Iran Deal + Sanctions
۰ President says Tehran will rebuild its nuclear facilities (Reuters)
۰ Iran must ‘seriously improve’ nuclear co-operation, watchdog says (Financial Times)
۰ 60% uranium lies under rubble, no plan to retrieve it, Iran’s FM says (Iran International)
۰ US targets Iran missile, drone programs as UN measures lapse (Reuters)
۰ Sanctions gray area helping Iran to replenish missile stockpile (RFERL)
۰ US grants India six-month sanctions waiver to run Iran’s Chabahar port (Reuters)
۰ DOJ probe of Iran oil tycoon examines his global banking network (Bloomberg)
۰ UK announces sanctions against individual who funds the work of the IRGC (gov.uk)
۰ Health official warns sanctions disrupting medical supply chain (IranWire)
Arts + Culture
۰ Trailblazer for women’s rights in Iran celebrated at Georgetown (Georgetown.edu)
۰ K-Pop in Iran: Offbeat Tallinn Fest Films (Hollywood Reporter)