Fatemeh Mohajerani, the government spokesperson, elaborated on the dimensions of fuel imbalance and its impact on the budget and household livelihoods during her press conference on September 15, 2026. She announced that the government is facing a serious challenge with a daily production of 110 million liters and consumption of 140 million liters of fuel, which has placed a seven billion dollar import cost burden on the country.
Dimensions of Fuel Imbalance
Mohajerani further stated that fuel imbalance has become a strategic challenge for national security. She added: "The continuation of the current situation in the energy sector is not sustainable, and this daily gap of 30 to 40 million liters has turned into a serious threat." This situation, especially under the shadow of sanctions and economic pressures, has added to the difficulties of managing the treasury.
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Delay in Gasoline Price Increase
The government spokesperson also announced the postponement of the implementation of the decision to increase the third tier gasoline price due to livelihood pressures and wartime conditions. This decision, which was supposed to be implemented in winter, has now been postponed due to the priority of maintaining social stability. Mohajerani emphasized: "We did not want to place a new burden on people while they are under inflation pressure."
She further referred to the government's promises to improve household livelihoods and said: "The revenues from fuel price adjustments will not be used to cover budget deficits, but will entirely return to the household livelihood basket." This commitment comes at a time when the government is seeking cheaper solutions to manage consumption.
Social and Economic Challenges
Mohajerani also pointed to the social challenges arising from fuel imbalance and said: "The pressure from rising fuel prices on lower-income deciles can turn into a social crisis." She also announced improvements in the mechanisms for providing food vouchers for vulnerable groups in mid-October.
Alongside energy challenges, Mohajerani addressed aspects of foreign policy and criticisms of double standards in the West. Referring to recent humanitarian disasters, she emphasized that countries claiming to uphold human rights should not overlook humanitarian disasters and criticized the isolationist policies of the West.
The government spokesperson also discussed changes in policies related to governing cyberspace and the lifting of the ban on government agencies operating in foreign messaging platforms, considering this action a pragmatic approach. She stated: "The presence of government agencies in this space is essential for addressing ambiguities and enlightening public opinion."
Finally, Mohajerani referred to the economic situation and job creation, announcing the creation of 28,000 new job opportunities through 244 cooperative projects. This statistic reflects the government's efforts to maintain production and employment under the harsh conditions of sanctions and war.
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