Iran Faces Petrol Shortage as US Naval Blockade Disrupts Fuel Imports

Iran is struggling to secure enough petrol to meet domestic demand after a US naval blockade disrupted the country’s ability to import fuel, according to a senior Iranian official.

Vice President Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah said domestic petrol production was not sufficient and that restrictions linked to the US naval blockade had made it impossible for Iran to bring in the additional supplies it needs.

“Petrol production is insufficient, and because of the US naval blockade, we cannot import it,” Ghaempanah was quoted by Iran’s official IRNA news agency as saying on Wednesday.

The warning comes as long queues have formed at petrol stations across Iran in recent days, adding to growing economic pressure on the country as its war with the United States increasingly affects fuel supplies and everyday life.

Iranian authorities are also considering changes to the country’s fuel distribution system. On Monday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s chief of staff, Mohsen Haji-Mirzaei, said petrol quotas would be reviewed, although he did not provide details about possible changes.

The conflict began on February 28, with Tehran subsequently taking control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The United States has responded with a naval counter-blockade around Iranian ports, further restricting the movement of goods and fuel into the country.

Ghaempanah also criticised Iran’s long-standing petrol subsidy system, arguing that it unfairly favours people who own several vehicles while offering less benefit to those without cars.

“The distribution of petrol in the country is inequitable. Owners of several vehicles benefit from subsidies, unlike those who do not own one,” he said.

Iran is one of the world’s major oil producers and has some of the cheapest petrol prices globally because of heavy government subsidies. Any attempt to alter fuel prices or ration supplies could therefore carry significant economic and political consequences for the government.