- Iran: Police disperse protests in Tehran
- New maxi oil field discovered in Iran of about 50 billion barrels
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18 November 2019The Iranian government has promised that it will pay 20 million people the first subsidies deriving from the new revenue for the disputed price increases on petrol. By Saturday, payments will cover another 40 million needy citizens, for a total of 60 million.The announcement was made by the Ministry of Welfare and Labor of Tehran, anticipating the payment of subsidies 10 days after the increase in petrol prices, to try to curb the violent protests that are sweeping the country.
The authorities had announced that the increase in petrol prices (+ 50% up to 60 liters per month, + 300% above that threshold) had been decided to redistribute resources to needy families, which had also been heavily re-introduced for a year and a half, of American sanctions.
Iran is one of the countries with the lowest fuel prices in the world, also due to the strong state subsidies to the sector. The new measures were also decided to counter the illegal smuggling of petrol to neighboring countries, favored precisely by low prices.
Protesters killed
Iranian security forces dispersed new protests against expensive gasoline in the capital Tehran, firing teargas and stinging chilli gasses at protesters. At least 12 people have died in Iran since the beginning of protests against expensive gasoline, reports the BBC in Farsi language, whose budget is based on information provided by the government. According to activists, however, the budget would be far more serious and at least 40 people would have been killed.