By Kayhan Life Staff
Several Iranian cities have been experiencing frequent power cuts in recent days. Vast areas of the country have been without electricity and water, lasting a few hours every day and disrupting people’s lives.
Many areas of the capital Tehran have been without electricity for several hours a day, angering residents who cannot use their fans and air conditioning units. Power cuts have also disrupted the operations of businesses, shops, offices, and healthcare centers.
An undated video shared on social media allegedly shows power cuts at night in the Tehranpars neighborhood in the northeast of Greater Tehran. In the 36-second clip, people are heard shouting “death to the dictator” and “death to Khamenei,” meaning Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Many people on Twitter believe the slogans shouted by the people during the power cut are part of broader civil unrest against the Islamic Republic.
Power and water shortages have posed severe problems to many people around the country during hot summer days. The power cuts have also created massive problems in cities where traffic lights do not work correctly.
An undated video posted on social media reportedly shows a traffic jam at the Eslah Nejad intersection in Shiraz, capital of the south-central province of Fars, caused by a power shortage affecting traffic lights.
In the 9-second clip, an unidentified man speaking off camera says: “Eslah Nejad intersection, where traffic lights do not work because of a power cut. One driver just reversed while another turned left and someone else turned right.”
Frequent power cuts have also affected the operation of some medical clinics.
An undated video shared on social media reportedly shows the interior of a health clinic. In the one-minute and 25-second clip, an unidentified man speaking off camera says: “We are in a 24-hour medical center. Unfortunately, we experience power cuts four or five times a day, lasting two to three hours each time. We are the largest medical clinic in the west of Tehran Province. Unfortunately, we receive no patients each time there is a power cut.”
“The power cut damaged our ultrasound machine. We are now in our dental office, and as you can see, there are no patients here because of the power cuts. We face power shortages every day,” the man adds: “Unfortunately, our ultrasound machine, which cost $45,000, burnt out the day before yesterday because of the power cut. I ask [the authorities] to resolve the problem. I cannot show you the cardiovascular center because it is pitch dark now.”
The power cut has also disrupted the internet, making it difficult for many people who have been working from home since the coronavirus outbreak to do their jobs.
Many people on social media have posted photographs and videos of the power cuts, blaming the authorities for the problem.
A tweet by Houshang Jeirani said: “Although there is a power cut, this [sign] works with a generator.”
The accompanying photograph to the tweet showed a banner and a sign that read: “8,305 days left to the destruction of Israel.” The words “Days” and number “8,305” were spelled with bright light bulbs.
Many people on social media have criticized the regime for supplying electricity to selected state buildings while depriving most homes, businesses, and public places of power.
Undated footage shared on social media allegedly shows electricity restored to a mosque and neighborhood where Mr. Khamenei lives while the rest of Tehran is without power.
In the 51-second clip, an unidentified man speaking off camera says: “The time is 11:03 at night, and we do not have electricity. We were without power around lunchtime as well. As you can see, our streets and neighborhood are without electricity. However, if you look carefully, you can see Tehran Mosque, lit with many lights.”
“Why should a religious building with no apparent function at this hour have power, and people, some of whom may look after their sick family member, should be without electricity? Someone might be stuck in an elevator right now. I cannot understand what the Islamic Republic is doing,” the man added.
Many people living in urban areas fear that a continuous power shortage would pose a severe threat to their safety and security.
Another undated piece of footage shared on social media reportedly shows police cars lined up at night in a busy street in Gonbad-e Kavus, in the northeastern province of Golestan, during a city-wide power cut. In the 28-second clip, an unidentified man speaking off camera says: “July 4, in Gonbad-e Kavus near the Electricity Power Building.”
According to the Ministry of Energy, while the country produced 55,000 megawatts of electricity this summer, its population has used 66,000 megawatts.
Importing electricity to Iraq and Lebanon is partially responsible for the frequent power shortages. The other contributing factors are bitcoin mining by state institutions and Chinese companies, which drain the national power grid.
Despite spending billions of dollars on developing its so-called peaceful nuclear energy, Iran has failed to make even the Bushehr Power Plant operational.
The Islamic Republic has invested no money in improving the country’s infrastructure, including the national power grid.
