Only days after Washington announced a new round of economic sanctions on Iran, the country's gasoline shortage has become increasingly visible on the streets.
In cities across Iran, drivers are reporting hours-long waits at filling stations. Videos circulating on social media show some people arriving before midnight or sleeping in their cars to secure fuel the following morning. Some stations are closing before serving everyone in line.
The situation is even more difficult for diesel. Truck drivers say lines at filling stations near major cities can stretch for kilometers, forcing them to wait overnight simply to obtain enough fuel to return to work.
Iran already faces a gasoline deficit of roughly 15 million liters (ca. 4 million gallons) a day. War damage, difficulties importing refined products and a tightening US blockade have made an old structural problem much harder to manage.
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