Economy ministry official says moving the fuel subsidy to bank cards does not change petrol prices or quotas

Morteza Zamanian, deputy for economic policymaking at Iran's Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance, said on Sunday 2 August 2026 (11 Mordad 1405) on the television programme "Miz-e Eqtesad" that the pilot scheme for using bank cards to buy fuel "has no connection to any change in petrol prices or fuel quotas" and only alters how the fuel subsidy is calculated and allocated.

He said the transfer of the fuel subsidy allocation from the fuel card to the bank card had begun within the framework of the budget law, and that its main purpose is to establish a clear picture of fuel consumption in the country rather than to reform prices. Zamanian added that the scheme allows for greater transparency in consumption patterns and strengthens policy tools for managing consumption and countering fuel smuggling.

According to his explanation, people continue to use their fuel cards and the refuelling process itself does not change; only at the point of payment does subsidy allocation move to the banking network. The volume purchased is recorded in the banking system and the price is calculated automatically according to each person's quota and entitlement, so that if someone uses part of their subsidised allowance and part at the free rate, the system calculates the final amount without requiring separate refuelling steps.