Iran hasn't had a dull moment in recent weeks. Amid frequent power cuts, cries of "death to the dictator" emanate from the dark in the nights, though this has yet to reach the point of protests in the day. With that, during one daytime power outage in Tehran, the infamous electronic billboard counting down the seconds to Israel's demise went black.
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The power cuts have shut down nuclear power plants, sparking rumors and headlines across the globe – especially when the reactor is located in Bushehr. The story the regime is telling, however, is actually credible. Bitcoin mining has become one of the more productive industries in Iran, and bitcoin miners consume electricity equivalent to that of half of Tehran – a city with 8 million people. They also use a lot of electricity in the sweltering summer months. Indeed, in our neighborhood – the Middle East – summers are hot and air conditioners work overtime. Moreover, in severe droughts, hydroelectric power plants are always at risk of being shut down.
And if there is electricity, does that mean everything is fine? Not really. On Friday afternoon, a cyberattack paralyzed Iran's railroad system. Hundreds of lines across the country were postponed or canceled. In response, Iran's state railway company denied that a cyberattack had been the cause of the chaos. However, the information hotline passengers were urged to call listed the phone number of the office of the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
On Saturday, meanwhile, the website of Iran's Transportation Ministry was taken down by what state television said was a "cyber disruption." The menacing message that appeared on employees' computer screens linked the various attacks: "Transportation minister, we carried out cyberattacks against the computer systems of the railway company and the Transportation Ministry! This message is for your bosses: Don't stretch your leg more than your rug." That expression, in Farsi, is the equivalent of saying "don't get too big for your britches" or "don't let your eyes get too big for your stomach."
All of this is going on, and we haven't even mentioned the explosion at Mellat Park in Tehran, which didn't cause any casualties or damage to property; or the coronavirus pandemic still raging across the country. In Tehran alone, 100 people are dying from COVID-19 every day, there's a medicine shortage, and a recent poll found that just 21% of the public has faith in the government's handling of the crisis. In other sectors, the price of chicken soaring again and in some areas of the country, there is a sugar shortage. Does any of this mean the regime is nearing its end? It's one day closer than yesterday.
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