Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that government offices and executive bodies will be required to install solar panels as part of efforts to address the country's energy shortages, state media reported Monday.
Speaking at a meeting on energy distribution and consumption, Pezeshkian stressed the need for equitable energy policies and flexible solutions adapted to regional conditions.
“Addressing energy imbalances should not be confined to a single approach,” he said, advocating for a mix of strategies to optimize distribution and ensure fairness across different provinces.
Iranian officials refer to the shortages in the energy sector as an imbalance.
The president also emphasized public engagement in energy-saving initiatives, suggesting that mosques, health centers, and prominent cultural figures could help promote consumption reforms.
“If we involve people in implementing these decisions, we will overcome many challenges, including energy distribution and consumption management,” he added.
Among other measures, Pezeshkian highlighted the need to modernize heating equipment, ban outdated and inefficient appliances, and expand the use of smart meters in residential areas.
The energy crisis, marked by widespread electricity shortages and gas deficits, has disrupted industries across the country since the past months. Aging infrastructure, international sanctions, and poor management have compounded the problem, leading to the shutdown of approximately 80 power plants.
During the winter, Iran faces a daily shortfall of at least 260 million cubic meters of gas, further straining the electricity supply.
Iran has vast oil and gas reserves, much of which it cannot tap due to US-led sanctions which stall investment and maintenance.
Government Spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Sunday that Zarif's resignation, announced amid controversy over his children's US citizenship, has not been officially accepted, emphasizing that his appointment has not been revoked, nor has a replacement been named.
"From the government's perspective, Zarif remains the Strategic Affairs Vice-President," Mohajerani said. "Dr. Zarif's vice presidency remains valid, though he is absent from government meetings."
Zarif announced his resignation earlier this month, citing pressure from the Judiciary and a desire to "prevent further pressure on the government" after criticism from hardliners who cited a 2022 law banning officials with dual citizenship or close relatives with dual citizenship from holding sensitive positions.
Mohajerani also addressed concerns about other officials with dual citizenship. "If the law is to be enforced, it must apply uniformly across all branches of government," she added.
Mohajerani revealed that Zarif had met with President Masoud Pezeshkian after submitting his resignation, where she said they discussed "Zarif's capabilities, impact, and unique experiences".
Though she said "the text he released indicated a kind of resignation", she went on to say: “The Vice-President for Strategic Affairs resigned from his position to prevent harm to the President, the government, and the country."
Zarif's resignation sparked sharp political reactions in Iran, with hardliners celebrating his exit and reformists warning of its broader implications.
His departure came less than four weeks after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei reaffirmed his opposition to negotiations with the United States, a stance that undermined Zarif’s role in the government.
It was widely perceived that Zarif joined the Pezeshkian administration to help negotiate another nuclear deal with world powers similar to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was scrapped by Donald Trump during his first term in office.
However, Khamenei, the country's ultimate decision-maker, rejected the idea of talks with Trump last month.
Reformist commentators have warned that Zarif’s resignation, coming shortly after the impeachment of Economy Minister Abdolnaser Hemmati, signals growing instability within Pezeshkian’s administration.
Despite the wage hike, workers' representatives had demanded at least a 70% increase to keep pace with inflation.
The council did not issue a decision on housing allowances, leaving it at 9 million rials ($9.50) per month, while rent for a 50-square-meter apartment in Tehran averages 150 million rials ($160) per month.
Hussein-Ali Haji Deligani, a member of parliament, dismissed the 45% wage increase as insufficient in the country's collapsing economy.
“With 100 million rials ($106), a family cannot survive,” he said, calling for a fundamental adjustment of wages to match inflation.
The increase is 10 percentage points higher than last year’s 35% wage increase, but some lawmakers emphasized that percentage gains mean little when purchasing power declines.
Mojtaba Yousefi, an MP from Ahvaz, pointed out that “when wages rise slower than inflation, workers’ real income drops by 20%.”
According to Iran’s labor law, the minimum wage must be set in accordance with inflation and provide for a household’s basic needs.
Inflation has been consistently around 50 percent and the economic crisis has significantly diminished the purchasing power of ordinary Iranians, leading to tens of millions falling into the category of working poor.
Experts highlight that the poverty line for Tehran residents is approximately 300,000,000 rials (approx. $600) per month, three times the current minimum wage.
Ali Babaei Karnami, head of the parliamentary Social Committee, previously said that any increase below 50% would be “a deviation from the law.” He also cited reports estimating a household’s essential expenses at 260 million rials ($277) per month, more than twice the newly set minimum wage.
Under the new system, a married worker with two children will see their total monthly income rise from 116.9 million rials ($124) to 163.5 million rials ($174), while a single worker without seniority will earn 134.9 million rials ($144), up from 94.6 million rials ($101).
Each year, Iran’s labor ministry convenes negotiations between worker and employer representatives, but two key factors ultimately determine wages: the government’s salary increases in the annual budget and the inflation rate reported by the country’s statistics agency.
Critics argue that raising wages without broader economic reforms risks fueling further inflation while failing to improve workers’ real incomes. At least one third of Iran now lives below the poverty line.
In dollar terms, wages have barely grown due to the weakening rial, leaving many workers effectively poorer despite nominal increases.