Iran Implements Sweeping Remote Work and Energy-Saving Measures Amid Severe Economic Crisis

Amid dire fuel shortages and mounting economic challenges, the Iranian government is seeking cost-saving measures for government workers and other citizens to deal with the crisis. On Saturday, the government set office attendance hours for 8am to 1pm from September 23 to the end of the current Iranian year, with the remaining contractual hours to be completed remotely. Agencies must also designate one day a week when employees and managers travel to work by public transport.

In recent days, government ministers have released videos showing themselves using the metro to commute to work as part of the campaign. Metro and bus rapid transit systems will also be free of charge until mid-November in a bid to encourage commuters to leave their cars at home. Worn-out government vehicles will also be replaced with electric, gas-powered or hybrid alternatives, although this is expected to take years to implement.

President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a directive on September 12 instructing government agencies to facilitate remote work for suitable employees to save on petrol, electricity and natural gas costs for the state. Resource-rich Iran has dealt with energy crises before, rooted in mismanagement and dated infrastructure, but the added pressure of war with the United States and Israel has forced the government to think of creative solutions to energy shortfalls.

The cash-strapped government raised the price of fuel for the third tier of quotas for a second time in less than a year, meaning that people will pay double for any petrol use beyond 110 litres per month. A US naval blockade of Iran’s southern ports in place since July has halted fuel imports that previously helped balance the gap, while oil and gas facilities were also bombed by the US and Israel.

Data released by the Statistical Center of Iran highlighted the damage the war has dealt to the economy, with a massive 10.1 percent year-on-year fall in real gross domestic product and a 26.4 percent fall in oil and gas extraction between late March and late June 2026. Despite these challenges, some workers like Amir-Hossein have found the transition to remote work beneficial for managing daily commutes and finances amidst rampant inflation.