Mohammadreza Aref, First Vice President of Pezeshkian, said in a meeting with members of the Seminary Instructors Society in Qom: “Even the third gas price—at 10,000 tomans—still has a large gap with the real cost of importing; because the cost of importing each liter of gasoline for the government is more than 70,000 tomans, and anyone who goes to the north every week must pay for their gasoline.”

He continued: “When we import gasoline at 70 cents, we cannot sell it at 2 or 3 cents; imported gasoline will be introduced gradually and with adjustments through the process of freeing up prices.”

Aref added: “The provinces of Kerman, Sistan and Baluchestan, and Hormozgan presented a new plan to reduce fuel smuggling, which was approved; but adding a fourth rate was done without our approval and permission.”