Internet disrupted in Iran amid fuel protests in multiple cities
netblocks.org
netblocks.org
And they have smuggling issues to neighboring countries for a long time.
> According to Iranian counter-smuggling authorities, 17 percent of daily fuel production equivalent to some 40 million liters (10.6 million US gallons) were being smuggled out of the country every day in 2009. This is while most of the smuggling concerns gasoline and diesel fuel, whereas Iran imports both of these to the tune of 30 million liters (7.9 million US gallons) every day. Smugglers are using "lakes of fuel", underground pipelines to neighboring countries and oil tankers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Gasoline_Rationing_Plan_i...
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21554459
(This submission is of an article from 4-5 days ago, around the same time as the other HN post, so it doesn't look like there's significant new info in this one.)
What are the new measures?
Under the new fuel measures, each motorist is allowed to buy 60 litres (13 gallons) of petrol a month at 15,000 rials ($0.13; £0.10) a litre. Each additional litre then costs 30,000 rials.
Previously, drivers were allowed up to 250 litres at 10,000 rials per litre, AP reports.
Clean transport alternatives exist, and are becoming cheaper. But with fossil fuels being subsidised to the point that they are sold below their production cost in Iran, let alone their market value or true environmental cost, clean alternatives will always have trouble getting established.
It's just too bad the Iranian government feels the need to block discussion on the internet, rather than use it to get the message out.
Also, probably made harder since Iranians don't have access to a lot of fuel efficient vehicles due to trade barriers.
It’s curious to point out social programs in the context of Iran. I figure the complete economic strangulation imposed on it would be a more obvious cause.