Iran’s fuel shortages worsen as sanctions and war cripple supply

Iran’s gasoline shortage has turned into a full-blown fuel crisis, with drivers sleeping in cars and truckers stranded for days as US sanctions and war damage throttle supplies.

Washington’s latest economic sanctions, announced just days ago, have deepened Iran’s struggle to import refined fuel and keep its aging refineries running. The shortages are worst in big cities like Tehran and Karaj, where drivers face lines stretching for hours. Some stations close early to ration scarce gasoline, forcing motorists to arrive before midnight or sleep in their vehicles overnight. Diesel shortages are even worse: truckers near major cities report kilometer-long queues, forcing them to wait days just to refuel and return to work.

Iran already needs an extra 15 million liters of gasoline daily, but sanctions and damaged infrastructure have choked imports and made the deficit impossible to fill. A resident in Karaj told DW he spent 45 minutes just to reach a station that now limits sales to five liters per driver. “Yesterday I went to several stations—some closed, some empty, some with long lines,” he said. He returned at 6 a.m. the next day only to find another queue. Drivers say the shortages may be a prelude to price hikes, though officials have not confirmed this.

For truckers, every lost day in line means lost income. One driver described sleeping at a station for hours while waiting for a tanker that might supply only a few dozen vehicles. Another said he had waited since 8 a.m. after failing to get diesel the day before. Rising costs for insurance, tires, repairs and maintenance pile pressure on drivers whose earnings depend on keeping their rigs moving. Meanwhile, Iran’s push to blend gasoline with small amounts of methanol—now up to 0.5% in some refineries—has sparked public doubt. Videos show motorists holding unusually clear fuel and questioning its quality, while officials insist the mix meets national standards. With sanctions tightening and no quick fix in sight, Iran’s fuel crisis is only getting worse.