Iran key services shut as rial plunges amid energy crisis, regional tension
Al JazeeraTehran, Iran – Tens of millions of people across Iran are facing major disruptions as authorities shut down services in the face of an exacerbating energy and currency crisis amid historic regional tensions. The power outages were largely within the summertime before now, but have recently hit with winter’s first cold, with even state television experts issuing stern warnings that next year could potentially be far worse. The gas shortage, in turn, either puts power plants out of commission or forces them to burn cheap, dirty and low-yield fuels like mazut, a low-quality, heavy oil that has been a major driver of rampant air pollution in Iran in recent years. Health Minister Mohammad Reza Zafarghandi said last week that Iran suffers at least $12bn in costs and damages due to air pollution annually, and some calculations put the figure close to $20bn.
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