Iran is facing a significant natural gas shortage amid ongoing damage to its energy infrastructure, prompting government officials to urge the public to reduce consumption. The shortages have been exacerbated by a series of attacks by the United States and Israel targeting critical gas-processing facilities, as well as by persistent seasonal demand pressures.

Iran’s first vice-president, Mohammad Reza Aref, called on citizens to conserve energy to maintain network stability and ensure uninterrupted supply to colder and more remote regions during the winter months. He warned that users exceeding consumption limits would be subject to higher tariffs and that those ignoring warnings could face cuts in their gas supply. Meanwhile, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of parliament, advocated for a nationwide reduction in natural gas use by 10 percent.

In an effort to reduce fuel consumption and alleviate pressure on transportation networks, the government has also instructed public sector employees to work from home at least two days per week. This came amid increasing concern over how damage to infrastructure has constrained gas availability.

Since February, a campaign of US and Israeli attacks has targeted Iran’s energy installations, notably including strikes in March that damaged processing plants associated with the South Pars gas field. This field, shared with Qatar and located in the waters of the Gulf, is one of the world’s largest. According to Iran’s oil ministry, daily production capacity at South Pars fell by approximately 20 percent following those air strikes, from a reported pre-war record of 1.1 billion cubic meters per day. Officials state that less than half of the disrupted capacity has been restored, resulting in a domestic shortfall estimated at around 400 million cubic meters per day in 2026.

President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the attacks at the Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Moscow, arguing that the destruction of Iran’s energy facilities not only harms the country but also threatens global energy security and economic stability. Iran, with an annual production capacity near 300 billion cubic meters, ranks as the world’s third-largest gas producer. However, extensive state subsidies keep domestic prices low, leading nearly all production to be consumed internally by its population of approximately 90 million. Iran exports roughly 13 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually, mainly to Turkey and Iraq.

Despite long-standing challenges including sanctions, under-investment, and a mismatch between processing capacity and demand, the impact of the recent attacks has worsened the supply situation. In response, Tehran has been pursuing a gas import agreement with Russia. The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding in 2024 under which Iran would eventually import 55 billion cubic meters of Russian gas per year via Azerbaijan.

These developments reflect the growing strain on Iran’s energy sector as it grapples with external pressures, internal demand, and efforts to secure alternative supplies to mitigate the ongoing shortfalls.