Artist: Ahmad Barakizadeh
By Kayhan Life Staff
Iran’s nuclear program, a critical aspect of the theocratic regime’s survival strategy, has transformed from an essential lifeline into a suffocating noose.
For over thirty years, the Islamic Republic officials have maintained that their intent in developing nuclear power plants is solely for the peaceful generation of nuclear energy, particularly for electricity. However, the reality paints a much bleaker picture.
The regime’s focus on its nuclear program, enrichment facilities, and missile development has not only affected every facet of political, diplomatic, security, and economic life in Iran but also led to a concerning neglect of crucial investments in infrastructure and services that would benefit the population.
The Islamic Republic has squandered the opportunity to modernize Iran’s energy infrastructure in favor of its nuclear strategy. According to the Ministry of Energy, the Bushehr reactor, the country’s only operational nuclear power plant, generates just 1.1 percent of Iran’s total electricity supply and is entirely dependent on fuel supplied by Russia.
With the arrival of summer, widespread power outages have returned, disrupting cities throughout Iran with blackouts that can last up to 12 hours daily. This has sparked protests in various sectors of society, including business and industrial owners, such as bakers and workers from Tehran’s iron market.
A significant portion of public opinion recognizes that the nuclear issue has not just overshadowed the livelihoods of the Iranian people but has effectively taken them hostage.
The Ayatollah’s misguided nuclear strategy has inflicted more harm on Iran’s prospects than both the Iran-Iraq war and the hostage crisis involving U.S. diplomats combined. It has now has driven the country to the brink of war.
