Fuel smart card distribution would come to an end within 10-15 days and rationing would take affect at the time, he told reporters on the sidelines of an open session of Majlis (Iran’s parliament).

“All filling stations have been equipped with smart card systems and more than 90 percent of stations have become operational,” said the minister.

Asked about the reason behind the increase of petrol to 1,000 rials (10.8 cents) per liter ahead of rationing, he said the price had been determined for a liter of rationed gasoline, however Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel Monday urged the cabinet to enforce the new rate as of May 22 according to Majlis ratification, arguing that rationing and price were totally separate issues.

Petrol quota would be announced twice a year, said the top official, adding, “For the current year, two quotas have been determined for every five months.”

Gasoline price in Iran went from 800 rials (8.6 cents) per liter to 1,000 rials (10.8 cents) and is supplied only with smart card as of today.

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.

Iran’s Minister of Petroleum Seyed Kazem Vaziri-Hamaneh Tuesday announced that the cabinet would determine the petrol quota for cars and taxicabs on June 7.

The cabinet was to define the rationed gasoline quota Sunday and the officials have yet to make the final decision on the date of rationing.

The minister added petrol was supplied in all filling stations with smart card as of today.

He expressed hope all smart cards would be distributed by June 7 and the rationing would take effect at that date.

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.