Energy Crisis in Iran
In this Persian interview, host Speaker A asks energy expert Omid Shokri why Iran, the world’s second‑largest natural‑gas holder, is now facing a severe gas shortage and broader energy crisis. Shokri attributes the crisis to a cascade of structural failures: the absence of a comprehensive, long‑term energy plan; a policy focus on deterrence rather than development; chronic under‑investment in oil‑and‑gas and petrochemical sectors; and the crippling effect of international sanctions that block capital, technology, and foreign expertise. He quantifies the problem, citing roughly 18 billion m³ of annual gas consumption and about 9 billion m³ lost in the distribution network—losses that amount to nearly half of total demand. Shokri outlines short‑term mitigation measures (demand‑side management, temporary cuts to industrial users, prioritising essential services) and stresses that these are only stop‑gap solutions. For a durable resolution, he calls for lifting sanctions, attracting foreign investment and modern technology, upgrading the gas transmission and distribution infrastructure, boosting production from southern fields, and pursuing an active energy‑diplomacy that re‑positions Iran in the global gas market. The interview ends with a brief discussion of the geopolitical dimension, noting that Europe’s reliance on Russian gas illustrates the strategic importance of secure gas supplies.
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