Iran: Iran's Energy Ministry has announced its preparedness for worst-case scenarios concerning electricity supply, urging the public to stay calm amidst growing concerns.
According to Anadolu Agency, the ministry emphasized that the country's power grid remains decentralized, advising citizens to disregard rumors regarding potential prolonged outages. This statement comes as part of a broader effort to reassure the Iranian populace about the nation's resilience in the face of escalating regional tensions.
Further reassuring the public, Iran's First Vice President, Mohammad Reza Aref, addressed citizens through a post on the US social media platform X. He highlighted that the national security and infrastructure stability are being maintained with "precise calculations." Aref assured that the government has developed and finalized measures to cope with all possible scenarios, emphasizing that no threat surpasses Iran's level of preparedness. He urged citizens to maintain calm and confidence in the government's strategies.
The backdrop to these reassurances includes a looming deadline set by US President Donald Trump, who has threatened severe retaliatory actions, including the destruction of bridges and power plants in Iran, should Tehran fail to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and agree to a proposed deal by 8 p.m. Eastern time Tuesday (0000 GMT Wednesday).
The situation has been further exacerbated by ongoing regional escalations since Israel and the US initiated an offensive against Iran on February 28. In response, Tehran has launched drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries that host US military assets. These retaliatory actions have resulted in casualties, infrastructure damage, and disruptions to global markets and aviation.