Fuel Card Sold for 30 Million Tomans; Truck Drivers Protest in Tehran, Kerman, and Assaluyeh

News sources in Iran report a surge in the buying and selling of fuel cards following new restrictions, with cards being sold for 30 million tomans at notary offices. Simultaneously, published images show that the fuel quota issue has led to protests by truck drivers in Tehran, Kerman, and Assaluyeh. The website 'Eghtesad 24' reported that the discussion around renting fuel cards has significantly increased, but now we are witnessing a new development where fuel cards are being sold outright for 30 million tomans. According to this media report, even the possibility of registration in a notary office for this transaction is announced. The market for renting and selling fuel cards heated up after the Minister of Oil announced in late Farvardin that all fuel cards at stations would soon be collected and refueling would only be possible through personal fuel cards. In this regard, Ali Akbar Arab-Amiri, the operations manager of the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company, stated on 25 Farvardin, 'In the first step, we intend to return the number of cards to normal after the Eid al-Fitr holidays or at the beginning of Ordibehesht, meaning we will collect the excess cards from travel and holidays.' On the other hand, published images show that a number of truck drivers have protested against the reduction of fuel quotas and low freight rates by holding protests on Babayi Highway in Tehran, in Kerman, and in front of the Assaluyeh governorate. In previous years, truck drivers have also held strikes in protest of their occupational problems, sometimes simultaneously in several provinces of Iran. The imbalance created in the fuel sector has put the Islamic Republic in a difficult situation. Some experts believe that the Islamic Republic will eventually increase fuel prices, and the continuation of this situation is not feasible due to financial constraints on fuel imports. Fuel cards at stations will not be eliminated; the government has retreated until 'further notice.' The fuel quota for internet taxis has been cut; a new round of fuel supply restrictions has begun. The average gasoline consumption has reached 120 million liters per day. The Minister of Oil announced the elimination of fuel cards for station owners; new fuel restrictions will be implemented within 10 days.