Iran asks public to cut AC use as US strikes knock out power grid amid 41 C heat

The Iranian government has asked citizens to reduce air conditioning use during peak hours as the country swelters through a heat wave.

Iran's Energy Ministry said Friday through the semi-official Tasnim News Agency that residents outside the country's southern regions should cut their electricity consumption to ensure stable power supply there.

"Transmission lines in the south have been damaged by airstrikes, disrupting supply to cities and surrounding areas," a ministry official said. "We would appreciate it if all Iranians could turn off their air conditioners for just one hour during peak times, if possible."

The capital Tehran was forecast to reach a high of around 39 degrees Celsius on Friday afternoon. Bandar Abbas, the port city that has been a repeated target of US strikes, is expected to see temperatures climb to around 41 degrees Celsius on Sunday.

US airstrikes entered their sixth consecutive day on Friday. Early morning strikes targeted road and rail bridges in an apparent effort to cut Bandar Abbas off from the rest of Iran.

Iran's state-run IRNA news agency said a tower at the port of Chabahar, on the Gulf of Oman, had also collapsed. The port, operated by Iran with Indian support, serves as a key trade route for landlocked Afghanistan and has been struck repeatedly in the US campaign.

Iran's Health Ministry said the US strikes had killed at least 38 people and wounded more than 400.

In Kuwait, Iranian strikes caused severe damage to power and seawater desalination facilities. Kuwaiti authorities said the country relies on desalination for about 90 percent of its drinking water and warned that a prolonged shutdown could threaten lives. Authorities moved to extinguish fires and began assessing the damage and working toward repairs.

Qatar issued two evacuation orders as its air defense systems intercepted incoming missiles.

British forces said an oil tanker was attacked while passing through the Strait of Hormuz on a route close to Oman. The UK Maritime Trade Operations center said the vessel sustained minor damage with no crew injuries.