Iran’s Pezeshkian turns off lights in protest of wasteful energy use

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized excessive energy consumption during a public speech in North Khorasan province, highlighting inefficient practices like keeping lights on despite adequate sunlight.

Why it matters

Iran, one of the world’s largest energy-rich countries, is facing recurring energy shortages because of high consumption, insufficient infrastructure investments, and international sanctions.

Pezeshkian’s remarks underscore the urgent need for energy conservation in a resource-strained nation.

Details

• Pezeshkian pointed out that Iran’s natural gas consumption is 3-4 times higher than in European countries, leading to gas and electricity shortages affecting homes and factories.
• During his speech, he emphasized wasteful energy practices, saying, “Why have you turned on these lights? There’s sunlight here. This is a bad habit.”
• The president urged citizens to adopt energy-saving habits, noting that excessive consumption is exacerbating the crisis.

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The room lights were switched off immediately after Pezeshkian’s remarks, symbolizing the need for immediate behavioral changes to tackle the energy crisis.

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Iran’s energy struggles are rooted in sanctions limiting investments in infrastructure, combined with high domestic demand.

Frequent power cuts during the winter months disrupt industries, agriculture and daily life, fueling broader economic and social challenges.