Thirsty Cities Darkened Lights

Iran holds the world's third-largest oil reserves and second-largest natural gas reserves yet is currently experiencing one of its most severe energy crises in decades (Iranian energy crisis 2025). Congestion in the power grid aging infrastructure and under-investment-compounded by international sanctions and chronic over-consumption resulting from expansive subsidies-have triggered nationwide power outages and gas shortages (Financial Times 2024; Lots of oil but no power 2024). For example electricity shortfalls reached an estimated 14000 MW in summer 2024-equivalent to roughly twice Azerbaijan's total generation capacity (Iranian energy crisis 2025). This systemic vulnerability affects not only residential comfort but critical urban operations including hospitals transportation and industrial production.