Enraged Iranians Leave Gas Stations Ablaze in Tehran
June 29, 2007 by pulkit
The Iranian government’s rationing of oil hasn’t gone down too well with the people of Iran. The entire rationing process was initiated on a short notice, leading to long lines outside gas stations; akin to the unending lines at a video game console launch. Jokes apart, the people ran out of patience standing in those queues for hours, and they set two gas stations in Tehran on fire to vent their ire.
The government had been planning for weeks to implement rationing, which was supposed to begin May 21 but was repeatedly put off. In May, the government reduced subsidies for gas, causing a 25 percent jump in the price.
While it might seem flabbergasting for westerners that Iran, a country drenched in oil, has to take such steps like rationing of oil, but it has become necessary.It has been necessitated by the fact that Iran imports 50% of its gasoline needs, as it doesn’t have a large enough refining capacity to refine its crude oil. On top of that, it sells gasoline at subsidized rates, increasing the economic pressure on the country.
The Iranian people are more incensed by the fact that their economy remains in shambles, despite having elected Ahmadinejad, who vowed to put the derailed economy back on track. Their indignation could have also stemmed from the ill-planned way the government is conducting the rationing process. It is, in fact, a national ignominy that Iran has to import 50% of its gasoline, in spite of its 2nd rank, in terms of oil production, amongst the OPEC countries.
Things will only change if the trouble-monger Ahmadinejad stops wasting national resources on the nuclear program. Iran doesn’t need weapons, mass-destructive or otherwise, but a solid economy that provides a comfortable life to its citizens.
