Flood in Iran: Officials Emphasize Compensation for Damages; Confirmation of Protests Against Government and IRGC

While officials of the Islamic Republic emphasize that the material damages of flood victims in various regions of Iran will be compensated, Iranian state media have confirmed reports of protests against some officials of the IRGC, Parliament, and the government. In recent days, videos, images, and reports of protests against various political and IRGC officials have been published from different parts of Iran, including during the explosion of flood barriers and the process of aid delivery to flood-affected citizens. On Wednesday night, Ahmad Khadem Seyed al-Shahada, commander of one of the IRGC's bases in southern Iran, told the state news agency IRNA, 'Today we went to assess the flood situation in the Amir Kabir sugarcane marshes where farmers affected by the flood had protests.' Mr. Khadem Seyed al-Shahada stated that some of the youth in the area had become 'a bit nervous and emotional' and protested; however, 'we will continue our mission, which is to save lives, regardless of their anger.' He added, 'We are forced to break flood barriers in some places to divert water from cities and villages, which will inevitably cause damage to some farmers as well.' This senior IRGC official's reference to breaking flood barriers in some areas has reportedly faced protests from the public who do not want to lose their farms and agricultural lands. There have also been verbal tensions between officials of this institution and the government regarding the activities of the government and the actions of the IRGC. Previously, Ramadan Sharif, spokesman for the IRGC, had stated that 'the IRGC's units' interactions with the people and pressure on them to evacuate homes in flood-affected areas' are rumors and 'media manipulation.' Another protest that has been reflected in the media and news agencies inside Iran pertains to the presence of the representative of Poldokhtar and the governor of Lorestan. Yesterday, videos of the presence of some Iranian officials, including Mohsen Rezaei, in Poldokhtar and protests and slogans against them were published. The ILNA news agency now quotes 'an informed source' saying, 'Angry and dissatisfied people of Poldokhtar County reacted sharply to these two officials (the parliamentary representative and the governor) due to the critical situation caused by the flood and the lack of attention to their problems, as well as the officials' weaknesses in providing aid, and they strongly complained about the current situation and negligence.' Meanwhile, officials of the Islamic Republic have emphasized that the damages in flood-affected areas will be 'fully compensated.' Among them, Ali Larijani, the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, said last night, 'Flood victims should not worry about compensation for damages.' The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic also stated, 'These destructions and the damage to homes and farms must be compensated and will be.' However, some observers and social media users express doubts about the reconstruction process in some crisis-affected areas in Iran in previous years, including the compensations and reconstructions in some areas after earthquakes. For example, the Bam earthquake, which years after the city's destruction, still faced a slow process accompanied by protests from the people and experts. Months after the Kermanshah earthquake, people faced a shortage of sanitary facilities, and a year later, thousands were still living in tents and containers. Crisis management during the earthquakes in Ahar and Varzeqan in East Azerbaijan faced severe criticism from officials and members of Parliament. Protests against the performance of the state radio and television during crises and natural disasters have also been raised several times.