Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah, in response to a question about the increase in gasoline prices to 80,000 tomans, emphasized that under the current conditions, stabilizing the prices of gasoline and diesel is not at all on the agenda.
Need for Wage and Salary Stabilization
Ghaempanah stated: "If we want to stabilize fuel prices, we must also stabilize the salaries and wages of employees, retirees, etc. We cannot offer fuel at international or regional rates while not stabilizing people's salaries and wages."
Read more: Executive Vice President: Fuel Price Stabilization Requires Justice
Fuel Smuggling and Proposed Solutions
The head of the Energy Commission of the Parliament addressed rumors circulating on social media regarding the reduction of the 1,500 toman gasoline quota and sudden price changes, stating: "We are not looking to create shock in society and we do not confirm the unofficial news that has been published."
The Executive Vice President, during a visit to the Anti-Smuggling Headquarters, referred to the daily smuggling of 30 million liters of gasoline and diesel, saying: "If we want to solve the issue of fuel smuggling, we must stabilize the prices of energy carriers."
The head of the Presidential Office identified the price difference between diesel and gasoline in Iran and neighboring countries as the main cause of smuggling, adding: "It is not intended to raise the prices of gasoline and diesel, but we must distribute energy carrier subsidies fairly."
Ghaempanah further pointed to the status of fuel consumption and smuggling, stating: "Our per capita energy consumption is very high, and 30 million liters are smuggled daily. We are effectively paying subsidies to neighboring countries."
He emphasized that such a plan is not on the government's agenda and that this idea has been raised to address corruption bottlenecks. He added: "If not corrected, smuggling will continue, and one way to combat smuggling is to bring energy carrier prices to international levels."
The Executive Vice President considered price stabilization as a step towards implementing justice and stated: "Wealthy individuals benefit more from subsidies, and this is not fair."
Read more: Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah: The Proposal to Increase Gasoline Prices to 80,000 Tomans is Not on the Agenda · Ghaempanah: Production is Iran's Response to Economic Warfare
