Power Outages 'Without Notice' in Iran; Eyewitness: We Are Disrupted in Work and Life

Frequent and prolonged power outages in various cities of Iran, which officials of the Islamic Republic previously referred to as 'planned blackouts,' have disrupted the normal lives of citizens. In addition to reports from knowledgeable sources at Voice of America, numerous personal accounts about this issue have been shared on social media. An eyewitness from Tehran told Voice of America on Thursday, December 13, that besides the closure of schools and government offices 'under the pretext of air pollution,' work in private offices and companies has also faced numerous problems, and 'the issue is not just air pollution.' According to this informed source, 'frequent power outages at various times of the day have harmed businesses,' and 'with internet outages due to power cuts, remote work is not possible for employees in these conditions.' This source also mentioned 'water cuts due to pump failures resulting from power outages in apartment units' and stated that government officials 'reduce the daily pressure of problems on themselves by closing kindergartens and schools, shifting the burden onto working mothers and fathers.' Another citizen from Tehran recounted their experience on Thursday, stating that in the morning, during a scheduled doctor's appointment, 'the power was out and the work could not be completed,' adding that afterward, due to the power and internet outages, 'we were completely disrupted in work and life.' While multiple issues, including the rising price of the dollar, the potential increase in fuel prices, and the energy crisis, have impacted citizens' lives, Masoud Pezeshkian, the head of the Islamic Republic government, has asked people to 'cooperate' with the government and lower their home temperatures by 'two degrees.' In response to this request, economist Siamak Javadi pointed to financial corruption in the Islamic Republic and the billions of dollars sent to its proxy forces, stating: 'Syria $30 billion, Hamas $30 billion, Hezbollah $20 to $30 billion plus another $77 million, nearly $200 billion in currency interventions, 1,500 killed in three days (November 98), you killed and executed thousands more, injured, blinded, raped, and now you ask for cooperation?' Many users, in addition to the sudden power outages and the resulting problems, have pointed to the dollar price rising to 74,000 tomans, stating that the government is trying to divert attention from the fact that 'we don’t realize the dollar has become 74,000 tomans and air pollution is suffocating us.' Some observers have also noted the precarious situation of the Islamic Republic these days. For example, Saeed Ghasemi Nejad, a senior researcher at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, wrote on X that 'air pollution is at a dangerous and unbreathable level. The dollar is at 74,000 tomans, there is no electricity. The resistance axis is collapsing! Maximum pressure is returning.' Amir Hossein Mir Asmaeili, a journalist, also referred to citizen reports from inside Iran, stating: 'In Syria, where the government has fallen; there is no air pollution, no mandatory hijab, no ban on women's singing, no power cuts, no political prisoners, no burning of mazut, and no spending from people's pockets for foreign militias, yet reformists continue to scare Iranians about becoming like Syria.' Additionally, numerous accounts of power outages in various cities in Iran, especially in the capital, have been shared on social media. Maryam Shakirani, a journalist, wrote on X on Thursday: 'The power went out, the water pump that pumps water to the upper floors of the building stopped working, and the water was cut off. Tehran's air has reached record pollution levels.' This journalist stated that 'due to low income, I am forced to work two shifts,' adding: 'I struggle with slow internet and VPN. This is a glimpse of our life. If we speak up, it can be seen as black propaganda!' Meanwhile, the judiciary of the Islamic Republic has criminalized what it calls 'black propaganda,' limiting citizens' and media's freedom of expression regarding current problems and issues in Iran. Another citizen recounted their experience about today's situation in Iran: 'The power has been out for over an hour, and my father has been without oxygen for over an hour because the oxygen machine works with electricity.' They stated that the officials of the Islamic Republic 'have nothing to do but harass and torture,' wishing for the leaders of the government to meet the 'fate of Saddam and Gaddafi,' adding: 'You are systematically killing the people.' There have also been numerous reports of nationwide power cuts in other regions of Iran, including Karaj, Tabriz, and Isfahan, shared on social media. Meanwhile, the government website Jamaran reported on the sudden and unannounced power cuts in cities, stating: 'The autumn blackouts that were in place from November 21 to December 6' aimed at 'managing power plant fuel' have 'started again,' and 'we are witnessing two-hour blackouts for residential customers under the guise of managing power plant fuel.' According to this report, 'there was no prior announcement from the Ministry of Energy or Tavanir regarding the reimplementation of household blackouts, and people have faced power cuts without prior notice.'