As fuel prices rise again, Iran’s government urges citizens to cut back

New fuel pricing targets consumption above 110 litres monthly, doubling costs to 100,000 riyals per litre.

The price of gasoline is displayed on a dispenser, on the verge of a rise in petrol prices in Iran, at a petrol station in Tehran, Iran, September 7, 2026 [Majid Asgaripour/West Asia News Agency]

Iran has raised petrol prices for motorists again as the government struggles to manage declining revenues and sustain a costly subsidy regime.

The price of petrol will remain the same for the first 60 litres (16 gallons), state media reported, but there will be a higher price bracket for the next 50 litres (13 gallons). Prices will double from 50,000 riyals to 100,000 riyals ($0.07) per litre (0.3 gallons) for motorists who consume more than 110 litres (29 gallons) a month.

list 1 of 3 Iran and Ukraine wars: Why ship fuel is running short, and why it matters

list 2 of 3 Iran President Pezeshkian calls for unity as US ramps up economic pressure

list 3 of 3 Oil prices surge as US-Iran strikes intensify in Strait of Hormuz

Iran has some of the lowest petrol prices in the world, but due to ongoing economic difficulties amid the war with the US, including punishing sanctions and a siege on Iranian ports by US forces, Iranian officials have for months considered adjusting fuel subsidies to make up for lost revenues.

“If we consume it properly, we can manage with the amount of gasoline we produce in the country,” Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, said in a TV address earlier this month. “What is clear is that we need to save gasoline in our consumption. Of course, part of the responsibility for this high consumption does not lie with our people; it lies with our industry.”

Iran depends on oil exports for about 90 per cent of its budget, but these have declined from about 4 million barrels per day (bpd) to about 2.2 million bpd in August. The country is also consuming more oil than it produces domestically.

In a sign of the energy crisis, videos circulating on social media reportedly show long queues at petrol stations in Tehran.

It is the second time petrol prices have increased since December, with concerns about further increases prompting unrest.

Huge antigovernment protests in late December 2022 and early 2023 started after anger over fuel price increases. Iranians are already feeling the impact of a downturn in economic activity, high inflation, and a drop in the value of the rial.

新的燃油定价政策针对每月消费量超过 110 升的用户，将价格翻倍至每升 100,000 里亚尔。

2026年9月7日，伊朗德黑兰一家加油站的加油机上显示着汽油价格，此时伊朗汽油价格即将上涨。[Majid Asgaripour/西亚通讯社]

由于政府难以应对不断下降的收入和维持高昂的补贴制度，伊朗再次提高了汽油价格。

据官方媒体报道，前60升（16加仑）汽油的价格将保持不变，但接下来的50升（13加仑）将实行更高的价格区间。对于每月汽油消耗量超过110升（29加仑）的车主，每升（0.3加仑）汽油的价格将从5万里亚尔翻倍至10万里亚尔（0.07美元）。

伊朗和乌克兰战争（共3篇，第1篇）：为什么船舶燃料短缺，以及这为何重要

伊朗总统佩泽什基安呼吁团结，美国加大经济压力（共3条，此为第2条）

列表 3/3：随着美伊在霍尔木兹海峡的袭击加剧，油价飙升

伊朗的汽油价格是世界上最低的，但由于与美国的战争导致经济持续困难，包括严厉的制裁和美军对伊朗港口的围困，伊朗官员几个月来一直在考虑调整燃油补贴以弥补收入损失。

“如果我们合理消费，我们国家目前的汽油产量是可以满足需求的，”伊朗议会议长穆罕默德·巴格尔·加利巴夫本月初在电视讲话中表示。“显而易见的是，我们需要节约汽油消费。当然，造成汽油高消耗的部分责任不在于民众，而在于我们的工业。”

伊朗约90%的预算依赖石油出口，但石油日产量已从约400万桶下降到8月份的约220万桶。此外，伊朗的石油消费量也超过了其国内产量。

据报道，社交媒体上流传的视频显示，德黑兰的加油站排起了长队，这表明能源危机正在加剧。

这是自去年12月以来汽油价格第二次上涨，人们对价格进一步上涨的担忧引发了社会动荡。

2022年12月底至2023年初，伊朗爆发了大规模反政府抗议活动，起因是民众对燃油价格上涨的不满。伊朗民众已经开始感受到经济活动下滑、高通胀和里亚尔贬值的影响。