Iran Considers Increasing Gasoline Prices After Budget for Imports Runs Out, Says Energy Committee Member

The Iranian government has exhausted its annual budget for gasoline imports within the first months of the current year and no longer has access to foreign currency to buy fuel, according to a senior parliament member.

Farhad Shahroki, deputy head of the Iranian Parliament’s Energy Committee, told local media on Saturday, November 8, that the shortage of funds is pushing the government to consider raising gasoline prices. He noted that the proposal has not yet been formally submitted to parliament, nor has the Energy Committee been consulted.

Shahroki added that a price increase on “free fuel cards” gasoline purchased at stations beyond the subsidized quota is likely, claiming the move would be aimed at reducing consumption. He emphasized that the government does not need parliamentary approval to increase gasoline prices.

However, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Tuesday, November 4, that no decision has been made regarding the price of subsidized gasoline and that sales will continue at the current rate.

Earlier, on October 23, President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the government “has no hesitation” about raising fuel prices, signaling that a decision may be imminent despite public sensitivity to the issue.