Widespread Shutdown in Iranian Cities Due to Heat and Water-Electricity Crisis

Kokcha News Agency: Iranian media reported that offices and educational centers in 20 out of 31 cities across Iran were closed on Wednesday to conserve water and electricity amid soaring temperatures. This decision comes after warnings from Iran’s President about severe shortages of water and power resources.

Cities affected by the shutdown include Sanandaj, Qom, Ilam, East Azerbaijan, Yazd, Isfahan, Hormozgan, Gilan, and Kerman. Tehran, however, was not closed as it has passed the peak of the heatwave.

Additionally, provinces such as Golestan, Mazandaran, Markazi, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Razavi Khorasan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, North Khorasan, South Khorasan, Alborz, Sistan and Baluchestan, and Bushehr also announced closures for Wednesday.

Temperatures in Mehran, Ilam, reached 50 degrees Celsius, while in the Lalehzar region of Kerman, the lowest temperature was recorded at 9 degrees, marking a 41-degree temperature difference across the country.

Experts have warned that repeated shutdowns severely impact small and medium-sized businesses, as these sectors are financially constrained and less flexible, making them vulnerable to such disruptions.