Angry Iranian motorists queued for gasoline today hours after the world's fourth-largest oil exporter imposed fuel rationing, sparking chaotic scenes and the torching of two pump stations in the capital.
Drivers raced to fill up their tanks late yesterday after the Oil Ministry announced the delayed scheme would finally go ahead at midnight after months of confusion and conflicting statements, forming lines that stretched hundreds of metres.
A gas station which was destroyed last night in northwest Tehran. Angry Iranian motorists queued for gasoline for hours after the world's fourth-largest oil exporter imposed fuel rationing. Image: Reuters.
One fuel station in Pounak, a poorer area of the capital, was set alight while another in eastern Tehran was partially burnt, two of its pumps completely destroyed by fire, witnesses said.
"Last night there were a lot of fights, people were furious due to the sudden decision," said a 55-year-old pump attendant, who asked for his name not to be used.
Those who missed the midnight deadline still faced long lines early today in a country where many see abundant and cheap fuel as a right, even after government in May hiked the litre price by 25 per cent to 1,000 rials ($0.11).
Despite its huge energy reserves, Iran lacks refining capacity and must import about 40 per cent of its gasoline, a sensitive issue when world powers have threatened new UN sanctions in a row with Tehran over its nuclear programme.
"It is still crowded this morning because many people left last night without fuel," the attendant in northern Tehran said. As he spoke, scuffles broke out among some waiting car owners.
Iranian news agencies reported long queues for gasoline also in other cities in OPEC's number two oil producer.
Some lawmakers were urgently drafting a bill to stop rationing, the official IRNA news agency said, without saying how many they were.
Short of public transport, most people in Tehran rely on their own cars or taxis to get around in the congested streets of the sprawling city of 12 million people.