Friday, June 29, 2007

Iran: Gas pains to continue despite protests and riots

The plan will cause no problems for the people...The rationing was something which had to be done and will eventually be to the benefit of all people and also reduce air pollution...we cannot spend major parts of our oil revenues for importing petrol..."

Iran will continue petrol rationing despite protests and riots throughout the country, Iranian Oil Minister Kazem Vaziri-Hamaneh said Friday.

'This decision has been approved by the parliament and therefore the government is determined to implement it,' the minister told Mehr news agency.

In the Friday prayer ceremony in Tehran, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati called on the people to remain calm.

Since rationing took effect on Wednesday, the capital Tehran faced a visible decrease of traffic jams and also the air was much cleaner in the last 48 hours, realising at least two of the main aims of the rationing plan. (this smells like taquiyah to me-yah)

Hey, quit your bellyaching! You're going nuclear!