The first vice president said any decision on gasoline consumption management must be implemented with public cooperation and support, emphasizing that protecting people’s livelihoods remains the government’s red line.
According to the Office of the First Vice President, the Gasoline Task Force met Monday under the chairmanship of First Vice President Mohammadreza Aref. The meeting was attended by Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad, Plan and Budget Organization head Hamid Pourmohammadi, and Energy Optimization and Strategic Management Organization head Esmail Seqab-Esfahani. Officials approved measures related to the first stage of the third phase of structural reforms for gasoline consumption management.
Aref said the country’s achievements during the Ramadan War were made possible by public support and participation. He said people remained in the streets for nearly 70 nights and demonstrated strong support for the country and the political system. He added that during the 12-day war, the Dey (Jan.) incidents and the recent conflict, the public defended the country against enemy aggression.
He stressed that safeguarding people’s livelihoods must remain the priority in all government decisions to avoid harming living conditions. He said all decisions regarding gasoline consumption management must have public backing and added that national unity is needed to translate military success into economic progress, particularly as the country faces a full-scale economic war.
Aref also pointed to the government’s strategy for rebuilding infrastructure damaged during the Ramadan War, saying reconstruction efforts should rely on the latest technologies and localized expertise.
The report said new gasoline consumption management measures will be implemented with public cooperation to prevent challenges in fuel production and consumption. The measures are scheduled to take effect May 22. Officials said the current phase will not include any gasoline price increases and will focus instead on consumption management.
The task force’s decisions were made in response to damage caused to the country’s energy infrastructure during what officials described as attacks by US and Zionist forces. The goal is to manage the imbalance between gasoline production and consumption and avoid the need for imports.