Riots erupt in Iran after government announces petrol price hike

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. Public disturbances are taking place in Iran due to hikes in petrol price.

The plan was agreed by the Supreme Council of Economic Coordination, which is made up of PresidentHassan Rouhani, judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi and Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani.

The body decided that vehicles for private use would be restricted to 60 litres (16gal) of fuel monthly, while the price of petrol would jump 50 percent to 15,000 Iranian rials ($0.13 at open market rates) per litre. Any fuel purchases in excess of allotted rations will incur an additional charge of 30,000 rials ($0.26) per litre, Al Jazeera reported.

President Hassan Rouhani said the government was acting in the public interest, and that the money raised would be distributed to the country's neediest citizens.

Shortly after the announcement was made, protests erupted in a number of cities in Iran, with clashes taking place in several locations.

Protesters have set ablaze bank offices and gas stations. Public disturbances took place in hundreds of small settlements.

Conflicting media reports put the death toll in the protests from 12 to 30, with dozens injured.

On November 16th, the Iranian government shut down internet across the country.

Automobile transportation is of high significance in the Iranian economy and the price hike will immediately lead to increase in prices of all products, including food.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan