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Iran Calls for Reduced Car Use Amid Energy Crisis
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday urged citizens to rely more on walking, public transportation, and electric bicycles as part of a package of government measures aimed at reducing energy consumption while maintaining economic activity and production.
Pezeshkian stressed the importance of implementing an initiative to designate one day each week as a car-free day. He also called on the government to lead by example in conserving energy and to help turn this practice into a broad social culture involving all members of society.
The Iranian news agency ISNA quoted the president as saying that maintaining the continuity of production is the government’s central slogan. He emphasized the need for government institutions to reduce their energy consumption, noting that they should be at the forefront of these efforts.
The proposed plan includes expanding the use of public transportation and encouraging the use of bicycles, electric bicycles, and electric motorcycles. It also calls for providing buses to transport employees, adjusting working hours, consolidating government offices, and closing unused buildings.
Meanwhile, Iranian Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi launched a “Car-Free Day” initiative within the ministry in an effort to reduce fuel consumption, as the country faces a worsening energy supply crisis.
The measures come amid mounting pressure on Iran’s energy sector. Attacks on energy facilities since late February have reduced the country’s gas production capacity by approximately 230 million cubic meters per day, further worsening existing supply disruptions.
A surge in electricity demand during the summer has also widened the supply gap and led to repeated power outages affecting households and businesses. The government is seeking to manage consumption while expanding electricity generation from solar energy.
The energy minister previously described the conditions under which the government is operating as being beyond normal circumstances, calling on institutions to improve coordination and assume greater responsibility in dealing with the crisis.
