Speaking during an unannounced visit to the Plan and Budget
Organization of Iran on Saturday, Pezeshkian said the administration’s objective
extends beyond technical energy-saving measures and aims instead at creating
what he described as a “public culture” of conservation and efficient resource
use across the country.
The initiative comes as Iran faces recurring seasonal energy
shortages, rising domestic demand and mounting pressure on infrastructure that
authorities have struggled to modernize amid years of sanctions and
underinvestment. Officials have increasingly warned that unchecked consumption
could threaten electricity supplies to industry and manufacturing during the
summer months.
Pezeshkian said the administration plans to rely heavily on Iran’s
existing social and religious networks — including mosques, local trade
associations, volunteer groups and schools — to implement neighborhood-level
energy management programs.
“Every district should be able to play a role in reducing energy
consumption by relying on its own capacities,” the president said.
A central component of the program involves upgrading high-consumption
water coolers widely used across Iran during the hot season. Pezeshkian said
mosques and local volunteer bases could help assess household cooling systems
and coordinate the replacement of inefficient motors with lower-consumption
technology.
The administration also intends to enlist volunteers registered under
the “Jan-Fada” civic initiative, alongside engineers, technical specialists and
trade professionals, to support local optimization projects. Pezeshkian said
neighborhood groups could identify inefficient equipment, coordinate repairs
and educate residents on conservation practices.
Pezeshkian emphasized that the administration wants conservation
efforts to become embedded in daily life through institutions such as schools,
health centers and local guilds. He said educational teams would distribute
instructional and cultural materials designed to encourage lower energy use and
reduce unnecessary consumption.
The president also suggested banks could support the initiative
through low-interest financing for households and local groups seeking to
purchase energy-efficient equipment.
Pezeshkian said the current initiative would focus on participation
rather than coercive measures, arguing that broad community involvement could
make the country more resilient to future economic and infrastructure
pressures.
“As people become examples and motivators for one another at the
neighborhood level, this process can play an important role in reforming
consumption patterns nationwide,” he said.
The president added that regional coordination centers would monitor
implementation on a weekly basis and dispatch support teams where projects
encounter delays or operational problems.
Before the president’s remarks, senior officials including Petroleum
Minister Mohsen Paknejad, Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi and Industry Minister Seyed
Mohammad Atabak presented reports on financing requirements, energy-efficiency
projects and the replacement of electricity-intensive cooling equipment.
The administration said it aims to prevent disruptions to industrial
electricity and gas supplies during the coming months by reducing pressure on
the national energy grid through voluntary public participation and localized
conservation efforts.