Iranian farmers in talks after clashes with cops

DUBAI: Farmers from a drought-stricken Iranian province who clashed with security forces in a protest over water supply have met officials in an attempt to settle the dispute, local media reported.
The farmers in central Isfahan province have for years protested against what they say is the unfair diversion of water from the Zayandeh Rud river to supply other areas, leaving their farms dry and threatening their livelihoods.
A pipeline transporting water to Yazd province was smashed in February, the opposition website Kaleme said. A demonstration by farmers near the pipeline on Wednesday led to clashes with security forces and three police buses were set on fire, Kaleme reported.
Demonstrations against authorities are rare in Iran, but there have been isolated protests by labor groups and consumers against delays in payment of wages and high food prices in the past year.
Fifty-five farmers met local officials to air their grievances, Isfahan provincial governor Alireza Zaker-Isfahani was quoted as saying on Saturday by Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency.