Iran’s Energy Crisis Intensifies Amid Drought and Crypto Mining Strain

Iran's deepening energy crisis has reached critical levels, with Lake Urmia—once a sprawling saltwater marvel—now reduced to barren salt flats. Nearby towns face existential threats as experts warn the lake may vanish entirely by summer’s end. A record drought, compounded by scorching 40°C temperatures, has forced government buildings in Tehran to shut down intermittently, while hospital staff resort to hand fans amid prolonged blackouts.

Protests erupted in Babolsar after footage showed chemotherapy wards plunged into darkness and medics sweltering without power. Citizens blame government mismanagement, but officials point to another culprit: cryptocurrency miners. The energy-intensive operations have exacerbated grid instability, sparking debates over Iran’s crypto policies during a national emergency.