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 14,000 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.