An Iranian MP has criticized the Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian’s handling of the ongoing energy crisis as national blackouts continue to affect the country in the harshest winter months.
“The energy crisis in the power sector stems from poor management and misguided policies by the energy ministry. During Ali Akbari’s tenure, instead of addressing infrastructural issues, we have witnessed mismanagement in power plants and blackouts, which has worsened the situation and deepened the energy crisis in the country,” Ali Haddadi, a member of the parliamentary committee on industries and mines, said in an interview with Student News Network (SNN).
“Unfortunately, instead of taking responsibility and being accountable, officials blame others for the problems. This irresponsible approach has caused significant delays in many power plant projects and insufficient investment in the energy sector,” Haddadi added.
He warned that as long as mismanagement continues, the energy crisis will remain unresolved, adding that the public has the right to demand transparency and accountability from the energy ministry.
Half of Iran’s industrial parks have ceased operations due to power outages, according to the employers' representative in the Supreme Labor Council, as the electricity cuts further hamper the economy.
There has also been a widespread closures of schools, universities, and government offices in the country as the government struggles to curb energy consumption amid a worsening winter crisis.
Local rights group Haalvsh, citing a statement by Ansar al-Furqan, reported on Sunday that the group claimed responsibility for the attack.
The attack took place outside a police headquarters in Bandar Lengeh, a town on the Persian Gulf coast.
While Iranian state media say Captain Mojtaba Shahidi Takhti, the head of Bandar Lengeh police intelligence was the only victim of the attack, a statement by Ansar al-Furqan claims Sohrab Hassan Zadeh, a senior IRGC intelligence member in Hormozgan province, and Bakhtiar Soleimanpour, a delegate from Tehran's central police intelligence unit were also killed in the incident.
Iran International cannot independently verify the militant group's claim.
Captain Javad Chatr-Sahar, the deputy head of Bandar Lengeh police intelligence, was injured in the attack, the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News confirmed on Saturday citing the local governor.
The identity of the suicide bomber has not yet been precisely identified, the deputy security chief of Hormozgan province said on Sunday, but evidence suggests they were affiliated with what he called terrorist groups.
Authorities in Hormozgan province have arrested one individual in connection with the attack, Iran's judiciary's news agency Mizan reported Sunday citing the provincial judiciary chief.
The bomber was positioned on the two police officers' exit route and triggered the explosion with a remote control, the report by Tasnim news agency said.
Security forces promptly arrived at the scene after the incident and confirmed the attacker was also killed, Tasnim added, citing the local governor Foad Moradzadeh.
The attack came days before the anniversary of twin suicide bombings in January this year claimed by Islamic State which killed nearly 100 people at a southeastern Iran memorial for late top IRGC general Qassem Soleimani.
"A vehicle belonging to the Intelligence Organization of Iran's Law Enforcement Command overturned for unknown reasons while on duty on the Ardestan to Na'ein road, near the Noor Complex," Iranian news agency Rokna reported.
"In this incident, General Jalal Sharafat was martyred due to the severity of his injuries and Major Seyyed Mohsen Mirghasemi was injured," the report added.
Sherafat previously served as the head of the Iranian Anti-Narcotics Police's Cyberspace Center at least until 2019, but it is not clear what his position was at the time of his death.
