Interior and petroleum ministries in a joint statement announced the new conditions of gasoline supply.

Petrol is supplied only with smart card as of May 22, reads the statement.

Few car owners who have not yet received their smart cards need to call on the distribution centers immediately, it continues.

Some gas stations have been selected by Petroleum Ministry to supply gasoline with emergency smart card for a limited period of time.

The date of rationing and the petrol quota for a car will be announced later.

According to the Budget Law for the Iranian year 1386 (started March 21, 2007), petrol is supplied at the rate of 1,000 rials (10.8 cents) per liter as of May 22.

Any rise in prices by either state-run or private sectors is illegal and subject to punishment.  

New information will be valid only through authorized sources.

The 25 percent price increase was announced at a time that contradictory reports were released.

Last Sunday, the communications and information deputy of the Presidential Office said the price of gasoline would not rise before the rationing plan took effect.

Mohammad-Javad Behdad added gasoline would be supplied with smart card at the previous 8.6 cent rate per liter as of May 22.

He said the price would soar to 10.8 cents as the rationing plan was put into practice.

“The date of rationing will be announced soon,” vowed the official.

However, Mohammad Nasseri, the plan spokesman Monday said gasoline price would soar to 10.8 cents Tuesday.

Hassan Moradi, a member of board of directors of Energy Committee of Majlis, confirmed the news and assured that the price would rise.

Last March, Majlis (Iran’s parliament) approved that the government could sell rationed gasoline at 1,000 rials 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.