Iran Shortens Government Office Hours to Cut Fuel Use

Iran's government has cut standard office attendance to five hours a day — 8am to 1pm — from September 23 through the end of the Iranian year in late March 2027, with the remainder of contracted hours to be completed remotely, according to Al Jazeera. The order, issued Saturday, covers government agencies as Tehran tries to shave fuel, electricity and natural gas costs amid shortages and war-damaged infrastructure.

What are Iran's new office hours?

Under the directive, government employees report in person only through early afternoon; the balance of their contractual workday shifts online. President Masoud Pezeshkian had already signed a directive on September 12 instructing agencies to facilitate remote work for employees whose jobs allow it, framing the move as a petrol- and power-saving measure for the state, Al Jazeera reported. "We have begun consumption savings with the government," Pezeshkian said earlier this month.

"We have begun consumption savings with the government." — President Masoud Pezeshkian

Why is public transit free until November?

Metro and bus rapid transit (BRT) systems — dedicated bus lanes that move large numbers of commuters through cities — will run free of charge until mid-November, Al Jazeera reported, an incentive meant to pull drivers out of personal cars and cut fuel demand. Agencies are also required to designate one day a week when staff and managers commute by public transport rather than by car; several ministers have posted videos of themselves riding the metro as part of the campaign.

How is the war affecting Iran's energy supply?

Iran has managed energy crunches before, tied to mismanagement and aging infrastructure, but the war with the United States and Israel has added pressure that has pushed the government toward the current set of measures, according to Al Jazeera. The outlet's reporting has also tied the conflict to a roughly 10 percent contraction in Iran's gross domestic product tied to oil and gas losses during the war. In early September, the government raised fuel prices for the third tier of its consumption-quota system for the second time in less than a year as it looks for ways to close budget gaps.

What other measures has Tehran ordered?

Government-linked offices must switch off heating and lighting after hours. Worn-out state vehicle fleets are to be replaced with electric, gas-powered or hybrid models, though Al Jazeera reported that rollout is expected to take years. Universities will reopen on a staggered, partial basis, with some coursework moved online, while schools, universities, healthcare facilities and other operational services are to receive separate energy-saving rules to be announced later.

Is this cost-saving push new for Iran?

No. Al Jazeera's reporting notes Iran has turned to similar consumption-saving steps during past energy shortfalls rooted in mismanagement and outdated infrastructure. What is different this cycle, per the reporting, is the added strain from wartime damage to energy infrastructure layered on top of those chronic supply problems, pushing officials toward remote work, free transit and fleet replacement as parallel levers rather than a single fix.