9 Million Liters of Petroleum Products Smuggled Daily in Iran
The spokesperson for the Anti-Smuggling Task Force stated in a television program that the volume of smuggled petroleum products and derivatives in Iran is estimated at 9 million liters per day. The representative from Abadan also attributed this large-scale smuggling to “behind-the-scenes mafias.”
Benzine, diesel, and other petroleum product smuggling in Iran is not new, and the price difference for benzine and diesel in neighboring countries is cited as one of the reasons for fuel smuggling to those countries. Iranian officials occasionally comment on this matter, though they present contradictory figures each time.
Hamidreza Dehghan-nia, spokesperson for the “Anti-Smuggling Task Force,” said on Sunday, December 5, on Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting that the total volume of smuggled petroleum products and derivatives is approximately 9 million liters per day, of which 3 million liters is fuel.
Mojtaba Mahfoozi, the representative of Abadan in parliament, in the same television program, cited the difference in subsidy rates for petroleum products in Iran as one of the reasons for the current “fuel smuggling.” According to him, the subsidized price of each liter of diesel in Iran is 300 tomans, while its price in Persian Gulf countries is 60 times this rate, and “this difference encourages profiteers.”
This parliamentarian, referring to the high volume of fuel smuggling in Iran, stated that fuel smuggling at this scale cannot be attributed solely to individual smugglers, but rather criminal networks operate behind the scenes. To pursue such a large-scale smuggling operation, all responsible officials and relevant organizations must be held accountable.
The spokesperson for the “Anti-Smuggling Task Force” reminded that oil and gas production and export, as well as other petrochemical and refining products, are under state control: “…Therefore, not everything that enters or exits the borders should be considered smuggling. Furthermore, if any oil and fuel export occurs, it is certainly carried out by the Ministry of Oil.”
Bijan Zanganeh, Iran’s former oil minister, previously stated on this matter: “God knows how much smuggling there is. The figures being presented are not accurate. Benzine and diesel smuggling in Iran cannot exceed 5 million liters per day.”
Many experts believe that the majority of fuel smuggling in Iran is organized and carried out by government organizations with the intention of circumventing sanctions imposed against Iran.
Source: DW
