Iran Endures Widespread Power Blackouts as US Strikes and Heatwave Bite

Iran is experiencing rolling electricity outages after U.S. missile strikes damaged more than 2,000 transmission points and removed about 4,200 MW of generation capacity. The attacks hit a Kish Island power plant and distribution networks in the southern port cities of Bandar Abbas, Jask and Chabahar, while heavy heat‑wave demand further strained the grid.

The blackout crisis has disrupted universities – Sharif University postponed dozens of exams – and forced hospitals, water treatment plants and factories onto backup generators. Over 500 public institutions in Tehran have been automatically cut off after exceeding consumption limits, and the national electricity company reported that major steel and petrochemical sites have gone offline.

Residents in Iran’s impoverished south, where U.S. strikes have targeted ports and energy facilities, say the outages have deepened daily hardship but have not sparked new anti‑government protests. People describe long periods without electricity and water, relying on noisy generators to preserve perishable goods. The situation illustrates how the combined effect of military action and extreme weather is eroding essential services across the country.