Complete Shutdown in 23 Provinces and Partial Closures in Others Due to Fuel Shortages, Power Outages, and Air Pollution

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi: The mullahs’ regime squanders the nation’s wealth through plunder, repression, warfare, and nuclear projects, yet despite sitting on vast oil and gas reserves, it cannot provide basic electricity or fuel. By using the worst types of fuel, it has caused severe air pollution, leaving countless victims in its wake.
The shutdown of schools and offices due to air pollution, severe cold, and fuel shortages, which began in some cities a few days ago, spread nationwide on Monday, December 16, 2024. Tehran and 22 other provinces were completely shut down, while other provinces experienced partial closures.
The Deputy Governor of Tehran stated: “Given the continued cold weather, all schools, universities, offices, and banks in the province will be closed on Monday, December 16” (IRNA, December 15).
Rastegar, the head of Tehran’s Chamber of Guilds, announced: “Large stores selling non-essential goods must close, and only stores offering basic necessities will remain open… If such stores, including appliance markets, resume operations, they will be sealed” (Tasnim News, December 16).
The mullahs’ anti-Iranian regime plunders the nation’s wealth or squanders through repression, warfare, and anti-national nuclear and missile projects.”
She added: “Despite sitting on vast oil and gas reserves, the regime cannot even provide basic electricity and fuel. Its reliance on the worst types of fuel has caused extreme air pollution, leaving many victims behind. As long as this religious fascism is in power, poverty, inflation, unemployment, air pollution, and shortages of electricity and fuel will worsen daily. Resolving Iran’s growing and numerous problems is only possible through the overthrow of this regime and the establishment of democracy and popular sovereignty.”
Earlier, state media had announced that power outages began in major cities, especially in Tehran, on Thursday, December 12, 2024 (ISNA, December 12).
On Thursday, December 12, air pollution persisted for the third consecutive day in Tehran, Tabriz, Mashhad, Arak, and Alborz, resulting in the closure of schools, universities, and offices in some cities (Asr Iran, December 11).
Jamalian, a regime MP from Arak, stated: “The Environmental Organization confirms the damage caused by mazut pollution, and the Ministry of Health acknowledges that an average of 661 people die annually in Arak due to pollutants.”
He added: “The renewed order to burn mazut, according to medical evidence, was an order to kill people” (Javan Online and Tabnak, December 14).
The pressure from power outages and provincial shutdowns primarily affects workers, laborers, and small shopkeepers who, having lost their jobs, are unable to meet their basic living needs.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)
16 December 2024