Addressing reporters on Monday, Ali Rabiei said managing domestic consumption could make it possible for the country to export petrol.

He said the government initiative to raise petrol prices was aimed at curbing corruption, adding the heads of three powers had decided to raise the prices with the aim of supporting lower-income households.

The price of petrol increased from Rls. 10,000 per liter to Rls. 15,000/l on Friday. A quota of 60 liters per month has been allocated to the Iranian citizens at this price; consumers of more petrol will be charged Rls. 30,000/l.

The revenues generated by the increased petrol prices are to be used for supporting lower-income households in the country.

Iran is targeted by unjust US sanctions which have caused economic troubles for the nation.

The increased prices have triggered unrest in several Iranian cities since Friday.

In 2013, petrol production was at 56 ml/d which has reached 107 ml/d which means the country is self-sufficient in production of the item, said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said earlier.

The Iranian President also said that consumption of petrol in Iran was higher than the global average.