As protests continued in several cities in Iran’s Khuzestan Province for a seventh night, people hundreds of miles away in Esfahan Province came out to support them.

Videos and reports received by Iran International show protesters in Yazadanshahr, Esfahan gathered Thursday night chanting, “Khuzestan we support you”, and “I will kill those who kill my brother”. One vehicle bringing Basij paramilitary forces to the site of the protests was damaged by protesters.

Security forces have opened fire on protesters in various cities and killed seven people since July 15. Many protesters have been injured and an unknown number detained.

US State Department for the first time reacted to the events in Iran on Thrusday. Spokesman Ned Price during his daily briefing said, the US is following the events, "including reports that security forces have fired on these protesters. We support the rights of Iranians to peacefully assemble and to express themselves. Iranians, just like any other people, should enjoy without – should enjoy those rights without fear of violence, without fear of arbitrary detention by security forces. And so we’re monitoring this very closely."

The government has moved more security forces and equipment, some by passenger planes, to stop the protests. So far, reports say two security personnel have also been killed in the province, one by friendly fire according to an eyewitness who contacted Iran International.

The protests began after weeks of water shortages, but the mood quickly has changed to protest against the Islamic Republic and its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who is seen as ultimately responsible for mounting economic and social problems in Iran.

Khuzestan produces most of Iran's oil but lack of government services, bad infrastructure and high employment have angered local residents.

Reports received from social media users say mobile internet has been turned off in Khuzestan to prevent news dissemination and the provincial prosecutor has threatened protesters with consequences if they continue demonstrations. The prosecutor has said that creating “any insecurity and instability and public order” will be dealt with all the force of law.

So far, videos show protests in Masjid Soleiman and Behbahan, where people have closed roads and anti-riot forces are present in large numbers.

In Behbahan, eastern Khuzestan, protesters have blocked most of the roads, possibly to prevent more government forces from entering the city. Some reports say a bridge has been set on fire and the highway to Shiraz, a major city in south-central Iran blocked.

Groups of cinema personalities, independent labor and teacher unions Thursday issues statements in support of protesters. The latest statement came from Iran’s Writer’s Union, a prestigious group that has been practically banned by the government.

In the strong-worded statement the writers’ statement said that lack of water in Khuzestan, which was Iran’s breadbasket not too long ago, shows the corruption and brutality of the ruling elite in the past 40 years. The people, independent of any political groups are demanding their rights and no one is allowed to answer their protests by bullets, the statement added.

Except the US statement Thursday, other Western governments so far have remained silent on the protests and violence by security forces unfolding in Iran. Many Iranians on social media question this silence and compare the Western attitude in this case to other crisis and instances of human rights violations in the world