![\"iran](\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/iran-gas-shortage-crisis-2023-1.jpg\" "\\"iran")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Iran is experiencing an unprecedented gas crisis, crippling most of the country.\u00a0 Many industrial and educational centers in nearly 20 provinces are closed, and people are going through a harsh winter. But how could a country that has the second-largest natural gas resources<\/a> face such a crisis?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The recent closures due to the gas crisis have caused many people\u2019s basic needs to be scarce. For example, many bakeries are closed or bake bread once or twice a day. Therefore, besides enduring cold nights, many Iranians must wait in long lines in freezing temperatures to get a loaf of bread.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The regime\u2019s engineered statistics indicate that five provinces face low gas pressure. But the reality is that this crisis expands across Iran. In many areas which lack gas piping, locals have to stand in lines for hours to get a gas capsule.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As always, the ruling theocracy blames people and their \u201chigh usage\u201d<\/a> for the current gas crisis. Authorities blatantly tell people to wear more warm clothes, turn off heating devices for at least six hours a day, prevent the home\u2019s temperature from passing 18 Celsius, and only use heaters in one room.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The kleptocracy in power has also used this opportunity to further plunder people\u2019s wealth by increasing the price of gas by 30 to 50 percent for the so-called \u201chigh-usage households.\u201d In other words, the regime tells people who lack proper heating devices and other necessities in winter to shiver and tolerate the unbearable cold weather, or they will be charged!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Tehran also claims that since importing gas from Turkmenistan has ended, the current gas crisis has aggravated. This is another lie, as the volume of gas in the swap contract with Turkmenistan is 5 to 6 million cubic meters per day. This amount does not count compared to the country’s gas consumption<\/a>, which is 600 to 700 million cubic meters per day. Besides, it is an embarrassment for a government that claims it can cripple the European countries\u2019 economy by seizing exporting gas to it.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The regime also claims that the unprecedented cold in winter has indeed surprised the officials. This is yet another blatant lie because the authorities were aware of the current situation, and many state-affiliated experts had warned about an impending gas crisis.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOfficials’ ignoring of the gas shortage will cause a severe disruption of the people’s heating systems, and devices, a 70% reduction in the country’s electricity production, the closure of basic industries and some public services such as bakeries and water distribution, and the emergence of general dissatisfaction,\u201d Parliament’s Energy Commission warned on November 1, 2022, according to the state-run Bahar News website.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Iran\u2019s exploitation infrastructures<\/a> are seriously damaged, and it will take billions of dollars of investments and years of work to increase the gas production rate. \u201cBy preventing wasting 100 million cubic meters of gas in the extraction process due to mismanagement and lack of planning, it is possible to supply the gas needed by at least 11 million Iranians in the harsh winter,\u201d the state-run Chand-Sanieh website quoted Kaveh Madani, Iran\u2019s former Deputy of Environmental Organization.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The angry people of Torbat-e Jam and Taybad attacked the Governor\u2019s Office and other government centers to protest lack of gas and heating resources. #IranProtests<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/WWXAbIYJA3<\/a><\/p>\n — Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) January 16, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n