Iran implements new gasoline quota system to curb anonymous fueling

Iran is transitioning toward a more regulated gasoline distribution system by phasing out emergency station cards in favor of personal vehicle smart cards. Keramat Veiskarmi, CEO of the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company, reported that during the first half of Shahrivar, 41% of the country's gasoline—approximately 59 million liters daily—was dispensed using anonymous station cards rather than personal cards.

This lack of identification makes it impossible to track consumer behavior, vehicle types, or exact usage volumes. Under new mandates, the Ministry of Oil aims to maximize the use of personal cards to ensure precise data collection on consumption patterns.

In five provinces—Khorasan Razavi, Kurdistan, Ardabil, East Azerbaijan, and West Azerbaijan—the government is adding a 50-liter tier of gasoline at a higher rate of 10,000 tomans per liter to personal fuel cards. Consequently, emergency station cards are being withdrawn in these regions. This brings the total monthly quota for passenger vehicles to 160 liters, distributed across three price tiers. However, the move has raised concerns among drivers regarding how to legally obtain fuel once their monthly quota is exhausted.