Three-minute read
The Iranian people are once again bracing for a season of hardship, not due to natural calamities, but as a direct consequence of the ruling regime’s profound incompetence and chronic mismanagement. Across the nation, essential services like water and electricity are failing, pushing citizens to the brink and laying bare the systemic decay that prioritizes the regime’s survival over the welfare of its populace.
The unfolding crises in Iran’s energy and water sectors are not unforeseen accidents; they are the predictable outcomes of decades of corruption, poor planning, and a blatant disregard for the basic needs of the Iranian people.
A Water Crisis Engineered by Incompetence
The capital, Tehran, home to millions, faces a dire water situation. The regime’s officials are openly admitting to the severity of the crisis, a clear indictment of their failure to manage one of the most fundamental resources. Mohsen Ardakani, the CEO of Tehran Water and Wastewater Company, recently painted a grim picture, stating that “the current conditions of the dams are very worrying and sufficient water resources are not available.” This alarming admission underscores years of neglect in infrastructure development and sustainable water resource management.
#Iran News:
Protests and Violent Clashes Erupt in Iran Amid Water Shortages and Government #Crackdownhttps://t.co/b3EIEfZPNf— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) July 30, 2024
Instead of implementing long-term solutions, the regime is resorting to desperate, short-term measures that directly impact the daily lives of citizens. Ardakani further elaborated on the so-called management strategy: “We are forced to manage this shortage by reducing water pressure in the network.”
He starkly warned of the consequences of not taking even this drastic step, revealing the precariousness of the situation: “If we increase the water pressure too much, all our reserves will be depleted within two to three months.” This rationing through reduced pressure means inconsistent water supply, affecting hygiene, daily chores, and the overall quality of life for millions in the capital, a crisis manufactured by the regime’s ineptitude.
A Summer of Despair Mandated by the Regime
Parallel to the water crisis, the electricity sector is collapsing under the weight of similar mismanagement. As summer approaches, Iranians are being told to prepare for extensive power outages. Mehdi Masaeli, the Secretary of the Electricity Industry Syndicate, delivered a chilling message, advising the public: “We must accept that we will have a difficult summer; I recommend people procure fans and traditional water pitchers for these conditions.” This archaic advice, in the 21st century, is a testament to the regime’s failure to invest in and maintain the country’s power generation and distribution infrastructure.
November 19 – Isfahan, central #Iran
Thousands of locals are joining farmers protesting for their share of water from the local Zayandeh-rud River. Regime officials have long rerouted the waters for their own purposes.#IranProtests#اعتراضات_سراسریpic.twitter.com/OCnuGUSEYM— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 19, 2021
The official further warned, “We must accept that during the day we will have less electricity than 24 hours. This year, the blackout time may be longer than 2 hours.”
Masaeli elaborated on the cascading impact of these power cuts, stating, “Now the problem is that when there is no electricity, we also don’t have water because the pumps stop. Today, the majority of people live in apartments, so when we don’t have electricity, we also don’t have water, air conditioning, and elevators, and social unrest may increase.”
This paints a picture of widespread disruption, where the lack of one essential service cripples others, multiplying the hardship and fueling understandable public anger. The regime’s inability to ensure a stable power supply, especially during peak demand in hot summer months, highlights a critical failure in planning and resource allocation, directly impacting every facet of life and commerce.
#BORAZJAN, southern #Iran. July 22, Protests over lack of drinkable tap water. Angry ppl who are tired of rgm's excuses set tires ablaze & block road to Bushehr. #IranProtests #IranRegimChange #FreeIran2018 pic.twitter.com/BscRnMKJIy
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) July 22, 2018
Admissions of Utter Failure and Disregard
Faced with a self-inflicted energy catastrophe, the regime’s responses further underscore its desperation and fundamental inability to govern effectively. On May 8, 2025, the regime’s Interior Ministry issued a directive announcing the closure of all government offices, banks, and executive bodies on Thursdays until September 22, 2025, the end of summer.
The stated reason for this drastic measure was the “electricity imbalance and the regime’s inability to solve the energy crisis.” This is a direct admission of failure from the highest levels of the Iranian administration.
Furthermore, working hours for these essential state institutions have been significantly curtailed, now set from 6 AM to 1 PM. The government-run Etemad Online website reported that numerous provinces, including Alborz, Qom, Lorestan, Semnan, Kerman, Yazd, Markazi, Qazvin, Kurdistan, Kermanshah, Mazandaran, Ardabil, Golestan, and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, had already implemented Thursday closures. Some provinces, like Yazd and Kermanshah, have shifted to remote work on Thursdays.
Power Crisis in #Iran: Widespread Outages and Public Discontenthttps://t.co/sSOfWttUr1
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) July 29, 2024
While the regime appeals to the public for electricity conservation, these measures are mere temporary pain relievers. A real solution requires structural changes in the energy sector that the regime has consistently failed to implement due to corruption, prioritizing ideological projects, and funding its repressive apparatus and proxy militias over national infrastructure. The country’s power grid is reportedly in a critical condition, with the potential for widespread blackouts looming large.
The compounding crises of water scarcity and power outages are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a deeply flawed system. The Iranian regime’s persistent mismanagement, corruption, and diversion of national wealth towards its nefarious regional ambitions and oppressive domestic machinery have left the country’s infrastructure in tatters and its people suffering.
These man-made disasters serve as a stark reminder that the current leadership is incapable of providing for the basic needs of its citizens. The only path to alleviating the suffering of the Iranian people and restoring the nation’s resources is through fundamental change and the establishment of a democratic government that prioritizes its citizens’ well-being above all else.