On Monday, December 26, tragedy was narrowly avoided in Ahvaz’s Zeytoon-e Karmandi neighborhood when a six-story residential building collapsed due to severe structural deficiencies. Fortunately, no casualties were reported as residents had been evacuated following warnings of instability.

However, the incident is yet another glaring example of systemic negligence, corruption, and the Iranian regime’s inability to prioritize public safety.The collapse came just ten days after a 5.6-magnitude earthquake damaged the building. Inspectors had flagged the structure’s compromised integrity, but their warnings were ignored until evacuation became unavoidable. While officials framed the absence of fatalities as a success, critics argue this narrative sidesteps the systemic issues that led to the collapse.

The disaster follows a troubling trend of preventable tragedies in Iran. The 2022 Metropol Complex collapse in Abadan, which claimed 43 lives and injured dozens, bears striking similarities. Both incidents highlight corruption, cronyism, and a disregard for safety regulations. Regime-linked developers and officials prioritize profit and loyalty over accountability, often ignoring expert warnings and safety standards. In Ahvaz, as in Abadan, officials acted only when the situation reached a critical point, placing lives and livelihoods at risk.

Despite promises after the Metropol disaster to address unsafe buildings, little progress has been made. In Tehran alone, thousands of unsafe structures have been identified, but efforts to publish their details were blocked to prevent public panic. Mayor Alireza Zakani’s admission that revealing this information would cause people to flee the city underscores the regime’s focus on optics over public safety. This lack of transparency leaves millions of Iranians living in hazardous conditions, with no assurance of protection.

Social media users have expressed outrage, condemning the government for prioritizing corruption and profit over human lives. The collapse in Ahvaz has become a symbol of the regime’s systemic failures, sparking renewed calls for accountability and reform. However, under the current leadership, these demands have been met with evasion and empty promises.

Until systemic changes are made, experts warn that disasters like Ahvaz and Abadan will continue to plague the nation. The Iranian people deserve better: a government that values their safety and well-being over corruption and cronyism. As public anger grows, so does the urgency for meaningful reform to prevent further loss of life and restore trust in governance.

MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI  (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu