The United Arab Emirates (UAE), India, the Netherlands, France, Singapore, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Sudan, Belarus, Turkey, Kuwait, Taiwan, Spain, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, and Bulgaria were the 16 exporting states.

Accounting for $2,571,812,000 worth of petrol sales, the UAE ranked first -- 62 percent of Iran"s import-bound gasoline.

Given $558.27 million, India stood second to the UAE.

Accounting for $363.225 million, $196.588 million, $30.094 million, $21.513 million, $19.772 million, $19.106 million, and $17.258 million respectively, the Netherlands, France, Belarus, Turkey, Spain, Sweden, and Bulgaria constituted the European petrol suppliers.

The other countries were Singapore, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Sudan, Kuwait, Taiwan, and Saudi Arabia accounted for $126.648 million, $90.962 million, $68.237 million, $31.761 million, $20.341 million, $19.958 million, and $17.889 million worth of gasoline exports, according to Mehr.

Last March, the Iranian parliament (Majlis) approved that the government could sell rationed gasoline at 1,000 rials (10.8 cents) per liter through smart cards as of May 22. The lawmakers also authorized the cabinet to determine the price of gasoline sold in excess of the rationed quota. The plan, however, looks to be postponed for different reasons.

Rapporteur of Energy Committee of Majlis (Iran’s parliament), Seyed Abdolmajid Shoja, said no certain body or ministry was to blame for mismanagement and delay in implementing fuel smart card plan.

“The cabinet and Majlis are not expected to pass the buck for the delay as both sides are trying to fulfill their duties,” he told PIN, adding the necessary infrastructure had not been yet provided in the country, making it difficult to put the plan into practice.

Shoja said a double-urgency plan on realistic gasoline price would be submitted to the Majlis if gasoline rationing was not implemented at due time.

“If the government fails to enforce the 2007 Budget Law on gasoline by May 22, we will present the new proposal to the Majlis,” he underlined.