Iranian energy crisis

Despite being a country with huge oil and gas reserves Iran suffers from a severe energy crisis. The Iranian energy crisis is a multifaceted problem that has been exacerbated by a combination of factors, including poor governance, foreign policy failures, and the dominance of industries under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). As of November 2024 Iran faces its most severe energy crisis in decades, with frequent power outages and disruptions to natural gas supplies. The country's energy infrastructure is outdated and in disrepair, with many refineries and power plants operating below capacity. Iran's energy supply is unreliable, with frequent blackouts and shortages affecting daily life, industries, and essential services. The IRGC's control over key industries, including power generation and distribution, has hindered efficient management and strategic planning. The regime's prioritization of political interests over efficient management and infrastructural development has exacerbated the crisis. A notable example in the extensive usage that the IRGC make in electricity to mine cryptocurrency which "leaves Iran in the dark.

Despite ongoing power shortages, Iran continues to export electricity, with a surge of nearly 92% in the first four months of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.

The crisis has put stop to 50% of industry.

In January and February 2025 constant global shutdowns were conducted with the schools as well as Iranian industries.

Since February 2025, Iran has been suffering from daily blackouts, each lasting for 3-4 hours.

The energy shortage does not equally effect all segmants of the population. For example, in Teheran, northern neighbourhoods experiencing only 1% of outages while poorer southern districts endured 32%.

The dual crises condition have led to dire food shortages and 2025 Iranian protests and mass transportations sector labor strikes.