Fuel Quota Reduced; Beginning of Gasoline Changes in Iran

After extensive speculation about how the government would deal with the gasoline imbalance, Tasnim News Agency reported the quiet start of gasoline changes in the country, stating that the fuel filling limit with personal fuel cards nationwide has been reduced from 60 liters per session to 50 liters. Experts believe that imposing restrictions on fuel filling is in line with 'fuel consumption management' and 'measuring public opinion regarding future changes' in this area. Tasnim, affiliated with security institutions, wrote that the fuel filling limit with free station cards has also been reduced from 8,000 liters per day to 7,000 liters, and each station card can only be used for fuel filling twice a day. Reports indicate that as the gasoline imbalance intensifies in Iran and the necessity of importing at least 10 million liters of gasoline daily arises, increasing prices and reducing gasoline consumption are among the government's main demands from the administration of Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, with all reformist and principlist media preparing public opinion for this path. In this regard, Masoud Pezeshkian stated in early September that it is unjustifiable to import gasoline at 50,000 tomans and sell it at 3,000 tomans. Following these remarks, speculation about the potential increase in energy carrier prices, including gasoline, surged. In this context, the newspaper Javan, affiliated with the IRGC, wrote on September 19: 'Why should someone whose car's side mirror costs 50 million tomans and is always on the road and in leisure throughout the year pay only one million tomans for gasoline in total for the year?!' The newspaper Etemad, aligned with the reformist faction of the government, supported Pezeshkian's remarks and the increase in gasoline prices on September 7, stating: 'In the past three years, the government has tried to control consumption through 'non-price' methods. However, on paper, none of these methods have worked.' Some independent analysts believe that the media regarding gasoline also act as propaganda arms of the government, and in this regard, the newspaper Donya-e-Eqtesad emphasized in its October 14 issue: 'Gasoline should be offered at a higher price. This is in line with increasing the share of gasoline from the volume of money in the economy without a sudden disruption in the volume of money in other sectors.' The newspaper Etemad also wrote in another report on October 8: 'Gasoline can be imported, but for imports, currency must be paid, and dozens of other necessary imports will be pressured by gasoline imports and will be eliminated. Increasing its price is also met with public protests.' The media approach in Iran indicates that the government is seeking fundamental changes in the way gasoline is supplied and priced, and fear of social reactions has led to the preparation of public opinion being prioritized by all visible and hidden media operators of the government. The Islamic Republic has a bitter memory of the last gasoline price increase, as protests erupted in November 2019 following the sudden rise in gasoline prices starting on the night of November 24 in several cities in Iran, including Mashhad, Ahvaz, Khorramshahr, and Behbahan. The scope of these protests spread to 54 cities, and ultimately, the Islamic Republic resorted to cutting off the internet in the country and killing protesters in various cities. On December 23, 2019, Reuters reported that around 1,500 protesters were killed during the crackdown on the November protests. The Islamic Republic and the repetitive story of increasing gasoline prices in discussions with Borqan Nasimi. Widespread reactions to Pezeshkian's claims about gasoline prices: Is the ratio of our incomes and expenses logical? A trade official: Severe shortages of gasoline and diesel in the coming months. Increase in gasoline prices in 'the next year'; a member of parliament says it will be between 15 to 20 percent. Pezeshkian's first deputy emphasized 'gasoline changes,' while the Minister of Economy expressed his opposition; gasoline vertigo. Users criticize the increase in bread prices in Iran: free market economics for gasoline and controlled prices for bread. Pezeshkian defended the increase in gasoline prices; users: a mission that Raisi did not dare to undertake was given to him. A record daily consumption of 140 million liters was recorded, and the energy imbalance in Iran intensified.