President Pezeshkian Urges Power Conservation in Iran as U.S. Naval Blockade Targets Basic Infrastructure

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian calls for electricity conservation as a U.S. naval blockade targets infrastructure to fuel domestic dissatisfaction.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 25, 2026, 12:36 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Times of Israel and AFP

A National Appeal for Energy Discipline

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the nation on state television Saturday, making an urgent plea for citizens to conserve energy amid an escalating military and economic standoff. Speaking from Tehran, Pezeshkian framed electricity conservation as a matter of national defense, urging families to limit lighting and appliance use. "Instead of ten lights, two lights should be turned on in the house—what is wrong with that?" the president asked, emphasizing that while the grid is currently stable, the ongoing naval blockade and previous air strikes have placed the country's infrastructure under unprecedented stress. He characterized the simple request for reduced consumption as a necessary measure for a population already "ready and present on the ground."

Strategic Impact of the Naval Blockade

The president’s address comes as the Trump administration maintains an indefinite naval blockade of Iranian ports, a move designed to pressure Tehran into a permanent ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump has publicly threatened to expand the campaign to include the total destruction of Iran’s power infrastructure if negotiations in Islamabad fail to yield a "favorable deal." Iranian officials have accused Washington of "state piracy" following the recent seizure of an Iranian cargo vessel and the boarding of an oil tanker. According to Pezeshkian, the blockade is a deliberate attempt by "enemies" to transform current public satisfaction into "dissatisfaction" by targeting the basic services that sustain daily life.

Resilience of the National Power Grid

Despite thirty-eight days of intensive bombing by U.S. and Israeli forces—which has reportedly involved over 31,000 munitions—major power cuts have not yet been reported in Tehran or other primary urban centers as of late April. This stability is largely attributed to Iran’s self-sufficiency in natural gas, which accounts for nearly 80% of its total electricity generation. By utilizing its vast domestic gas fields, the country has remained partially insulated from the effects of the naval blockade that has otherwise crippled its oil exports. However, the government has admitted to using "mazout," a low-quality heavy fuel oil, in older power stations to supplement the grid, a practice that has previously sparked environmental co...