Cairo: Hani Kamal El Din
Iran is grappling with an escalating energy crisis, which is significantly affecting its citizens and industries. The government has recently authorized power outages for households as part of measures to alleviate an increasing energy shortfall. Experts claim that Tehran lacks the necessary fuel supplies to sustain electricity production, with the ongoing energy-saving measures further fueling growing public discontent.
Iran’s officials, however, argue that these measures are essential for preserving the country’s industrial production. The Iranian government’s spokesperson, Fatemeh Mohajerani, emphasized that such energy-saving policies are driven by concerns about the potential collapse of industrial operations due to resource shortages. She reassured the public that efforts are being made to minimize the impact of power outages and ensure continuity in essential services.
Despite this, the power cuts have had widespread effects across the country. According to opposition satellite channel Iran International, 18 provinces have been left isolated due to power shortages. Educational institutions and government offices have been closing, and reports indicate that industrial zones are also experiencing frequent electricity disruptions.
The Iranian authorities have yet to provide specifics on the causes behind the energy crisis. President Masoud Pezeshkian called on citizens to adopt energy-saving habits by wearing warm clothing indoors and minimizing the use of heaters. He expressed regret for the inconvenience caused and assured that the situation would improve in the coming year.
According to The National, a publication based in the UAE, Iran possesses some of the largest natural gas reserves in the region. However, the country’s energy sector has been suffering from years of underinvestment, exacerbated by the ongoing international sanctions. These sanctions have had a profound effect on Iran’s energy infrastructure, leaving the country increasingly vulnerable to internal power shortages.
Some critics suggest that the ongoing energy-saving measures, particularly during the cold months, could spark widespread protests, similar to the fuel-related unrest witnessed in Iran between 2019 and 2020. During that time, discontent quickly escalated into an anti-government movement, with calls for a dismantling of the political system. According to human rights organizations, security forces killed around 1,500 protesters during these uprisings.
The situation in Tehran is made even more vulnerable due to Iran’s weakened position in the Middle East, as its alliances in Lebanon and Syria continue to falter. Investigations in recent months have revealed the extent of the financial resources Iran’s security apparatus has allocated to support groups such as Hezbollah. In a recent report, Reuters noted that nearly half of Iran’s oil exports are now controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the country’s most influential military and political body.
Nikita Smagin, an expert with the Russian Council on International Affairs, commented that Western sanctions have acted as a catalyst for the crisis, amplifying the existing challenges within the country. He explained that in Iran, energy resources such as electricity, gasoline, and even water are heavily subsidized, meaning that the public essentially pays very little for these services. This has led to a mismatch where the money Iran receives from its population does not come close to covering the country’s energy expenditures, leading to a significant budget deficit.
Smagin added that the government’s hesitancy to raise energy prices could spark protests, as witnessed during the fuel-related riots in 2019. However, he also highlighted that power outages were a recurring issue in Iran’s summer months, as the country’s energy infrastructure struggled to cope with peak demand. While the situation has improved over the years, the recent shortages in autumn mark a significant turning point, as Iran has not experienced widespread electricity outages during this season before.
“The crisis is compounded by the country’s inability to produce enough electricity due to insufficient fuel supplies,” said Smagin. “The situation is now reaching a critical point where protests could erupt once again. The challenge is understanding how large these protests may become and whether the government will be able to manage the situation without it escalating further.”
