Police attack Iranian protesters for the second night

Iranian state media say protesters have clashed with police over water scarcity in the southwest for a second night.

IRNA says protesters threw stones and debris at police and set a car on fire in a protest that began late on Sunday in the city of Abadan.

The report says police blocked roads near the protest and that the situation is "under control."

On Sunday online videos showed Iranian police shooting at demonstraters protesting water scarcity in the country’s south.

The footage of the demonstrations around Khorramshahr, some 650 kilometres (400 miles) southwest of Tehran, emerged early on Sunday.

Abadan is home to Iran's biggest oil refinery. The two cities are in the oil-rich Khuzestan province, which borders Iraq and is home to a large Arab community. The region has suffered from a years long drought.

The protests overnight come after four days of demonstrations in Tehran, including protesters confronting police outside parliament and officers firing tear gas at the demonstrators. The rallies led to the temporary closure of the city’s Grand Bazaar.

The unrest comes as international firms have pulled away from Iran after President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw America from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sent a message of support last week to Iranians taking part in strikes and protests against their government.

"The people of Iran are tired of the corruption, injustice, and incompetence from their leaders. The world hears their voice," Pompeo wrote.