Iran faces power blackouts amid war and heatwave

Iran’s electricity network is faltering under a combination of sustained military strikes and long‑standing underinvestment, leaving millions of residents without power during an unusually hot summer. Recent attacks on substations and transmission lines, attributed to regional conflicts, have damaged critical components of the grid, while decades of insufficient funding have left aging infrastructure unable to cope with rising demand. Utilities report that the cumulative effect of these disruptions has triggered rolling blackouts across major cities, forcing households, businesses, and hospitals to operate in extreme temperatures without cooling or reliable lighting.

The government has responded by mobilising emergency repair crews, seeking additional fuel supplies, and negotiating short‑term electricity imports from neighboring countries to stabilize the system. Officials also announced plans to accelerate modernization projects, including the installation of new transformers and the reinforcement of vulnerable transmission corridors, though timelines remain uncertain. Analysts warn that without sustained investment and protection of the grid from further attacks, Iran’s power shortages could persist, exacerbating public discomfort and economic strain throughout the remainder of the season.