Iran Faces Severe Gasoline Shortages and Expanding Black Market Amid Wartime Conditions

Iran is grappling with a significant gasoline shortage, with parliamentarians confirming a daily deficit of approximately 20 million liters that previously required imports. Mustafa Nakhai, a member of the Parliament's Energy Commission, stated that while various government scenarios are under consideration, no final decision has been made. Citizens across multiple provinces, including Tehran, Hormozgan, and Sistan and Baluchestan, report unofficial rationing, exhausted fuel quotas, and long queues at stations. The crisis has fueled a thriving black market, where unsubsidized gasoline is sold at inflated prices, sometimes reaching exorbitant rates in deprived areas. Officials have offered contradictory statements; while the Oil Minister previously claimed there were no supply concerns, other officials attribute the shortage to infrastructure damage from recent conflicts and wartime conditions. The situation has disproportionately affected rural and deprived regions, increasing living costs and hindering access to essential services like healthcare. Reports indicate that station attendants often bypass official systems, selling limited amounts of fuel directly for cash or charging fees for access to unsubsidized fuel cards, highlighting a breakdown in regulated distribution mechanisms.