Conflicting Reports on Third Gasoline Price; Will It Exceed 18,000 Tomans for More Than 60 Liters?

After months of confirmations and denials, an economic Telegram channel claimed to be aware of the Iranian government's gasoline plan under President Ebrahim Raisi, specifically regarding the third gasoline price. However, the Tasnim news agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, denied this claim. The Telegram channel 'Tasnim Economic' states that the tiered gasoline pricing is one of the government's major achievements, proposing that consumption up to 30 liters will be priced at 3,000 tomans per liter, from 30 to 60 liters at 7,000 tomans, and above 60 liters at 18,000 tomans per liter. The channel claims to be independent, while Tasnim labeled the price change news as 'fake' for the first time. Voice of America's investigations indicate that the government's movements regarding gasoline have aimed at altering the quota and price for over a year, possibly considering a gradual implementation. Previously, on June 7, Ahmad Mojarad, the manager of the Oil Products Distribution Company in Urmia, announced a pilot implementation of a three-tier gasoline pricing system in Urmia, stating that there would be 60 liters of subsidized gasoline at 1,500 tomans and 150 liters of free gasoline at 3,000 tomans, with any excess consumption needing to be purchased at a different price. Another action by the Ministry of Oil in this area was the removal of fuel cards at stations. In this regard, the spokesperson for the fuel station owners' guild stated on April 26 that the quota for these cards has not been limited, and 'only the number of these cards has decreased.' The latest phase of gasoline changes has been the connection of bank cards to the fueling system for charging gasoline quotas, announced on July 6, with a pilot program set to begin at one station in Tehran, followed by the introduction of super gasoline with magnetic cards at other stations. Investigations suggest that the government's intention behind connecting bank cards to the fueling network is to allocate gasoline quotas to all citizens. This plan has been discussed multiple times over the past two years, but media and government officials have denied it. ISNA reported in December 2021 that the government is determined to provide subsidies to those who do not own cars and have not benefited from gasoline subsidies so far. Alireza Beiginejad, a member of the Joint Commission, also emphasized on February 19, 2023, that the government is authorized to allocate 15 liters of subsidized gasoline per family member to households without cars starting from June 2023, provided that resources are available. *The headline and text of this news have been rewritten and revised. People are worried about rising gasoline prices. Refueling with bank cards; gasoline is on the path to becoming more expensive. The troubles of the gasoline that people consume; the Taliban does not accept Iranian gasoline either. The thirteenth government is determined to increase gasoline prices; the pot of gasoline has hit the bottom. The government's push to increase fuel prices; Shargh newspaper: gasoline consumption statistics have 'disappeared.' Media whispers about gasoline price hikes; domestic gasoline production is not profitable.