In Iran, living in the moment (gas rations)

[phantom power]

In Which Iranian Citizens Play Gas-Ration Chicken With Their Government

Since June, Iran has rationed gasoline to about 26 gallons a month for most private cars, leaving many families doubtful about their summer vacation plans and raising fears of pandemonium when school resumes in September and burned-through ration allocations run dry.

The rationing program is designed to stem the nation's crippling reliance on imported gasoline, in a country that has one of the world's largest proven oil reserves. The dependence on foreign gasoline, a result of the country's shortage in refinery capacity, is costing Iran more than $5 billion a year and rendering the nation vulnerable to the possibility of a new round of international sanctions that could cut off the fuel shipments.

(...)

What has many economists and officials worried, though, is that the "smart cards" issued in June with six months' worth of gasoline allocations may already be running close to empty for many families.

Considering that the debut of rationing sparked riots at a dozen gas stations, banks and department stores, officials here are worried -- so much so that parliament is seriously considering upping the allocations.

"To imagine what would happen if the government says, 'OK, this is the ration -- no more allocations.' We cannot imagine this scenario," Sefat said.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-gas23aug23,1,825801.story?coll=la-headlines-world&ctrack=1&cset=true