Iran's power grid which has been already weakened by aging infrastructure and years of economic pressure, is now under huge strain as regional hostilities brought by Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iran intensify.
The current Middle East conflict has only worsened the difficulties that many residents and small business owners already faced in Iran.
After two consecutive summers of daily nationwide power rationing, many locals say blackouts have become routine, triggering disruptions that extend beyond electricity to water supply and commerce.
"Summer power outages create challenges for us, affecting many businesses. During blackouts, clients are left stranded in offices, unable to get their work done," said Nasrin, a Tehran resident.
For residents like Nasrin, the instability is already a daily reality. But there are concerns over the dangerous effect which can occur, as when the electricity fails, so do other essential services.
"In some regions, when power outages occur, water supply is also disrupted. Naturally, this causes numerous problems for residents," she continued.
The impact goes far beyond inconvenience. For many business operators, a sudden blackout is not just an interruption, it is a direct hit to their livelihood.
"Power outages directly hurt my business. My shop relies on refrigerators and freezers to store large amounts of food-when the power goes out, the food spoils, leading to major losses. Sales also drop because the POS systems go down, so customers can't pay," said Alireza, a supermarket owner.
Many Iranians had already taken matters into their own hands long before the current war erupted. Over the past two summers, sales of diesel and gasoline-powered generators have surged, as households and businesses alike invest in a costly but increasingly necessary backup.
Businesses, residents suffer as conflict strains Iran's fragile power grid
Businesses, residents suffer as conflict strains Iran's fragile power grid
Businesses, residents suffer as conflict strains Iran's fragile power grid
