Iran’s ‘Dire’ Energy Crisis, Partially Caused By Israel, Results In Shutdowns

The Iranian government announced widespread closures of schools, universities, and government offices last week as Tehran struggles with a worsening energy crisis amid worsening winter weather.

Reports from Iran say that over 20 provinces had to close educational facilities and government offices due to electricity shortages. On December 12, unexpected power outages hit the capital city of Tehran, disrupting businesses, transportation, and leaving many people without the power needed for heating their homes.

The government has implemented fuel rationing to some non-essential businesses, and Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian called on citizens to lower the temperature in their homes to help bear the burden. Neither has been favorably received by the public.

With government officials reporting daily gas deficits of 350 million cubic meters of natural gas and other fuels, more than a dozen power plants have been taken offline, contributing to electricity blackouts.

The winter woes follow a summer of nationwide blackouts in which soaring electricity demand far outstripped the already struggling energy sector’s ability to cope.

Many are questioning how the country, which is rich in natural gas reserves and oil reserves is experiencing such problems. While years of underinvestment in upgrading the energy infrastructure and years of U.S.-led sanctions have certainly had a significant impact on the current energy crisis in Iran, there appears to be another more recent contributing factor – targeted attacks by Israel on Iran’s natural gas infrastructure.

In November, Pezeshkian said the country was facing “very dire imbalances in gas, electricity, energy, water, money and environment.”

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