Iran implements fuel quota reforms to manage gasoline consumption

Recent data and policy shifts in Iran highlight significant disparities in gasoline consumption and the impact of fuel pricing structures. Statistics reveal that 73.8% of households in the lowest income decile do not consume gasoline, as vehicle ownership remains a luxury. In contrast, the average monthly expenditure for the tenth (wealthiest) decile is nearly five times higher than that of the first decile.

To manage consumption, authorities have implemented new fuel quota reforms. Personal passenger vehicles now receive 60 liters at a rate of 1,500 Tomans and 50 liters at 3,000 Tomans. Notably, vehicles valued at over one billion Tomans are ineligible for the first two quota tiers. Additionally, a pilot program to register station cards is underway in Tehran to better track and manage fuel distribution.

Legislative discussions have also focused on reducing fuel demand in Tehran, where daily consumption reaches approximately 20 to 21 million liters. Experts suggest that institutionalizing free public transportation—including the metro, buses, and BRT—could significantly reduce gasoline consumption and traffic congestion in the long term.