Fuel Rationing Sparks Tehran Riots

Motorists set fire to petrol stations in Tehran today in an angry backlash against the Iranian government's decision to impose rationing.

One station in Pounak, a poor area of the capital, was set alight while another in eastern Tehran was partially burnt and two of its pumps were completely destroyed.

"Last night, there were a lot of fights, people were furious due to the sudden decision," a 55-year-old pump attendant told Reuters.

Drivers raced to fill up their tanks when the oil ministry announced that restrictions would be imposed from midnight. Long queues formed and scuffles broke out.

Iranian state radio reported that several stations were attacked "by vandals".

The scenes of disorder put further political pressure on the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is already under fire for failing to deliver on promises to improve the economy after his election in 2005.

In May, the government reduced subsidies for petrol, causing a 25% jump in prices.

The government had been planning to implement rationing for weeks. It was supposed to begin on May 21 but was repeatedly put off amid fears that Iranians would react badly as they are used to cheap and plentiful petrol.

"This man, Ahmadinejad, has damaged all things. The timing of the rationing is just one case," said Reza Khorrami, a 27-year-old teacher who was queuing at one Tehran petrol station last night.

Some stations in Tehran had queues more than half a mile long. Minutes before midnight, car owners still caught in the long lines began blasting their horns - sparking arguments with residents trying to sleep.

"Is this good timing, to announce rationing only three hours before it starts?" complained Ahmad Safai, a 30-year-old shopkeeper, who was queuing. "I had no gas in my car's tank when I heard the report."

Under the rationing plan, owners of private cars can buy only 100 liters (26 gallons) of petrol a month at the subsidized price of 1,000 rials per liter (0.049p). Taxis can get 800 liters a month at the subsidized rate.

Mr Ahmadinejad had resisted increases because of his campaign promises to share Iran's oil wealth with the poor.

The US, which is leading efforts to isolate Iran, accusing it of seeking to build nuclear weapons, has said Iran's petrol imports are a point of "leverage".

Iran lacks refining capacity even though it is the second biggest exporter in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec). It therefore has to import more than 50% of its petrol needs. To keep prices low, the government subsidized prices at enormous cost to the public purse.

Conservatives in Iran's parliament, especially those aligned with the country's national oil company, have long pushed for higher petrol prices. They hope this will cut waste and curb smuggling while also enabling the government to invest in more oil and gas production.