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Iran is in the grip of a worsening energy crisis, as rolling blackouts and natural gas shortages disrupt daily life across the country. With temperatures plunging and energy demand surging, more than 20 provinces, including Tehran, Alborz, and Isfahan, have closed schools and offices for days. Officials blame the cold weather and increased household consumption, but critics point to government mismanagement and hypocrisy as the root causes of the chaos.
The crisis is not limited to electricity shortages. Many power plants have resorted to burning mazut, a heavily polluting fuel, due to a lack of natural gas. This has compounded Iran’s already severe air pollution, with multiple cities reporting hazardous air quality levels. Tehran Governor Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian promised a resolution within 10 days but admitted that “closures and disruptions will be announced daily,” underscoring the lack of a long-term plan.
Adding to the complexity is the government’s contradictory approach to energy usage. While urging citizens to conserve gas and electricity, the regime itself consumes vast amounts of energy for non-essential purposes. Public buildings, mosques, and Revolutionary Guard-affiliated institutions receive free or heavily subsidized electricity, even as ordinary Iranians are subjected to rationing.
#Iran News: Widespread Power Outages and #Fuel Crisis Amplify Winter Woeshttps://t.co/Gwdx6T9Utn
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) December 14, 2024
Bitcoin Mining: A Symbol of Government Duplicity
One glaring example of the regime’s hypocrisy is its involvement in cryptocurrency mining, which consumes enormous amounts of electricity. Mostafa Rajabi, CEO of Iran’s state electricity company, admitted earlier this year that unlicensed bitcoin farms have caused “an abnormal increase in consumption” equivalent to the needs of entire provinces. While small-scale miners are raided by police, large operations tied to state institutions continue to operate with impunity.
“They distribute their machines across several apartments to avoid being detected,” said Masih Alavi, CEO of Viraminer, a government-licensed mining company. The unchecked nature of these operations has raised questions about the government’s priorities during an energy crisis.
Public Anger Reaches Boiling Point
As blackouts stretch into hours and days, protests have erupted across the country. On December 16, residents of Tehran’s Golgun Industrial Zone blocked the Tehran-Saveh highway, chanting slogans against the regime. In Karaj, nightly demonstrations have gained momentum, with protesters shouting “Death to Khamenei” and “Death to the dictator” as they endure repeated power outages.
“We’re awake now!” declared one protester in a video widely circulated online. “Every night we will gather until this regime falls!”
Power Crisis in #Iran: Widespread Outages and Public Discontenthttps://t.co/sSOfWttUr1
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) July 29, 2024
Small business owners, too, are voicing their frustration. A baker in Isfahan shared a video of ruined dough after a sudden power cut interrupted production. “Who is going to answer for this waste?” he asked. “The government says we should rely on alternative fuels, but where are they?”
Public anger is further fueled by the regime’s president Masoud Pezeshkian’s comments downplaying the crisis. In a recent address, he said, “I wear warm clothes at home; others can do the same.” This remark, seen as dismissive and tone-deaf, has only intensified resentment toward a government perceived as out of touch with the struggles of ordinary citizens.
A Systemic Failure
The clerical regime’s inability to manage the energy crisis is symptomatic of broader systemic failures. The regime is clearly prioritizing its own survival and regional ambitions over the well-being of its people. As the protests grow louder and more frequent, the energy crisis is evolving into a flashpoint for broader dissatisfaction with the regime. Iran’s citizens, facing freezing temperatures, polluted air, and daily disruptions, are no longer willing to endure the consequences of the government’s mismanagement and duplicity.
The clerical establishment may hope that the anger will subside, but with each blackout and broken promise, the cracks in its authority grow deeper. The question is no longer whether the regime can solve the energy crisis, but whether it can withstand the rising tide of public discontent.