The lights and heat are being turned down in Iran after they realize investing in Assad has left them vulnerable and unprepared for winter.

Karimi said Iran has spent billions of dollars over decades to prop up the Assad regime, including by supplying it with millions of barrels of crude for free. “Iran has reportedly spent over $25 billion on Syria, primarily through oil support,” she added. “This pattern of prioritizing regional alliances over infrastructure investment has left Iran’s energy sector in dire need of modernization.”