More Than A Dozen Gas Stations In Iran Torched In Protest of Gas Rationing

Let's see... Iran is building fast-breeder nuclear plants for energy, they claim, which they do not need, but is not building gas refineries, which they do need.

I'm sorta leaning against believing their claim they only want nukes for the energy.

More than a dozen gas stations were torched or damaged early today in Tehran by Iranians angered by fuel rationing measures that were suddenly imposed by the government, while many other Iranians lined up to fill their tanks.

The government has been warning for weeks that it would start rationing, but the announcement Tuesday night -- only three hours before the measure went into effect at midnight -- startled Iranians and send them rushing to get one last fill-up.

The rationing is part of a government attempt to reduce billions of dollars in subsidies it pays to keep gas prices low. Iran is one of the world's biggest oil producers, but it is sorely lacking in refineries -- meaning it has to import more than 50 percent of its gasoline needs.

But a hike in gas prices last month and now the rationing are feeding discontent with hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was elected in 2005 on a platform of helping the poor and fixing Iran's ailing economy.

The long lines turned violent at several gas stations, witnesses said.

...

Fire Department spokesman Behrouz Tashakkor said 12 stations in Tehran were set on fire. Iran's police chief Gen. Ismail Ahmadi Moghaddam put the total number of damaged stations at 17, along with cars and other buildings -- including banks -- that were damaged.

...

Reports that gas stations in several cities across the country were also in flames could not be independently confirmed.

I turn to the words of hardass philosopher Horatio Caine at times like this.

posted by Ace at 02:58 PM

| Access Comments