Schools and public buildings in Tehran will remain closed for a third consecutive day on Tuesday as Iran grapples with severe fuel shortages, state television reported. The crisis has led to the shutdown of multiple power plants, forcing authorities to impose energy rationing measures.
Despite being home to some of the world’s largest natural gas reserves, Iran has faced challenges in meeting its domestic energy demands. In recent weeks, the country has implemented electricity rationing, closed schools, and shut down government offices to conserve fuel.
The situation has worsened due to the sub-zero temperatures sweeping across the nation, further straining energy resources.
President Masoud Pezeshkian, who has been urging citizens to reduce fuel consumption, issued a public apology on Monday. He reassured the nation that the current crisis would be resolved by next year, pointing to ongoing efforts to address the root causes of the shortages.
State television reported that the closure of schools, universities, and government offices in Tehran and surrounding areas would continue on Tuesday, citing the persistent cold weather as a contributing factor.
The energy crisis has also disrupted power generation in other regions. On Monday, a gas-powered plant in Lorestan province was partially shut down due to a surge in gas consumption among households. This shutdown, combined with similar closures in power plants across northern Golestan province, has intensified the need for rationing.
In Tehran, widespread power cuts have left households without electricity, compounding the challenges of the fuel shortage.
According to IRNA, restrictive energy measures implemented over the past 24 hours have saved two million cubic meters of gas.
