Government Officials Pass the Buck on Gas Prices; Users: It Will Be Their Downfall

One day after Pezeshkian implicitly confirmed the increase in gas prices and the plan to allocate currency for its imports, Qalibaf rejected the parliament's responsibility in this matter, stating that setting gas prices falls within the government's jurisdiction. Meanwhile, observers say the ongoing economic and social problems of the Islamic Republic will bring it down. According to Iranian state news agencies, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf stated on Tuesday, December 3, that setting gas prices is in the hands of the government and the Islamic Consultative Assembly does not intervene in this matter. The Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly emphasized that the targeted subsidy law obligated the government to bring the price of petroleum products to the price 'on the ship in the Persian Gulf' by the end of the fifth development plan, but 'despite passing the sixth development plan, this has not happened.' This comes as Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of the Islamic Republic, in a television interview on Monday, contrary to his previous statements that gas prices would not rise, implicitly confirmed the increase in gas prices while shirking his responsibilities. On Tuesday, Economy Minister Nasser Hemmati also stated that he would make 'every effort' to prevent what he called 'the rent of gasoline smuggling' and said, 'It is time for reforms, and we must once and for all address the imbalances.' He also claimed that the increase in gas prices would not negatively impact the Iranian economy; statements that economic journalist Ali Ramazaniyan deemed baseless and 'laughable.' Meanwhile, a group of users on social media reacted to the statements of Islamic Republic officials, saying that the problems plaguing the Islamic Republic will 'roll it up' and will be the 'spark of a revolution.' Some users referred to Pezeshkian's previous campaign promises, writing that he 'said during the election debates that we will not raise gas prices without the people's consent! But now that he has become president and crossed the bridge, he says gas prices will rise, and the people's consent is worthless!' Several users also held the participants in the government elections responsible, stating that this is the 'result of your voting' as 'in the past month, all essential goods have increased by at least 30 percent,' and now Pezeshkian has said that gas prices will rise. Azadeh Mokhtari, a journalist in Iran, emphasized that 'the increase in gas and energy prices without structural reforms is a path toward exacerbating economic and social crises,' stating that 'the government should think about proper management of energy resources and reducing waste before considering price increases.' On the other hand, another journalist, Davood Soori, stated that 'there is no defense for the current price of gas and energy,' adding, 'but neither conditioning its change on other policies is a solution, nor is placing the entire burden of market reform on prices feasible.' These statements come as some opponents of the Islamic Republic consider economic problems to be its 'Achilles' heel.' In this regard, Fariborz Karami Zand, a former police officer and military expert, wrote on social media that 'the increase in gas prices and consequently the increase in other prices, including goods, medicine, transportation, and rent, the approval of the hijab and chastity bill, and thousands of other problems that people are currently grappling with will roll up the Islamic Republic.' According to him, 'the discussion is about the survival and continuation of the Islamic Republic.' He predicts that 'the people, who have witnessed the regime's blatant violence and ruthlessness, will be more prepared than ever to uproot it,' and 'even strikes will take on a different atmosphere.' Farnam Shakibfar, a political activist in Iran, also pointed out the justifications of the supporters of the Islamic Republic government, saying, 'Pezeshkian said he would raise gas prices, and then his supporters focused on another part of his statement where he said, in essence, that he doesn't really care for the recent hijab and chastity law, but he will implement it.' Siamak Ghasemi, an economist, also warned the Islamic Republic officials, emphasizing that 'any increase in gas prices before addressing the political and economic factors behind the increase in the dollar price and the continued high inflation in the country is futile, and in two to three years, you will return to the same point where you say gas is cheap compared to the dollar price.' On Tuesday, Masoud Pezeshkian admitted to the existence of livelihood problems and acknowledged the government's inability to solve them, stating, 'We are trying to meet the demands of retirees and nurses, but the reality is that these are just painkillers; we have not solved the problems because we have no money.' Meanwhile, Farshad Momeni, an economist in Iran, stated that contrary to the Islamic Republic's government advertising claims about providing for the livelihoods of the poor and educational and health justice, the government has demanded the approval of 'issues contrary to those' from the parliament in the next year's budget bill.