Persian Gulf update 11/18/2019..Iran: Petrol stations, banks set ablaze as fuel price protests continue

Iran: Petrol stations, banks set ablaze as fuel price protests continue

Tehran won’t allow ‘disturbances and insecurity’ – Rouhani on petrol protests

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said his government will not allow the protests in the country to develop into riots or disturbances, speaking at a cabinet meeting in Tehran on Sunday.

“Protest is different from riot. A protest is the right of all people and they all can protest, even against the government, and we deeply welcome no matter how harsh it is, and we will listen to whatever they say. However, we will not allow for any disturbances in our society,” he said.

Rouhani continued “The government will never allow anyone to cause any disturbances and insecurity. However, a protest is every person’s right and they can protest, they can speak and criticise.”

“People will not allow the outsiders who put economic pressure on the people, or those who were terrorists and killed people in the past, to take advantage of them, and take advantage of this situation,” he added, referring to the United States.

“We only have three options: we have to increase the people’s tax, export more oil and use the money for such affairs, or decrease an amount of money from subsidies and give the decreased money to the people,” said Rouhani.

Protests erupted across Iran on Saturday, after the government announced a 50 percent hike in petrol prices and introduced fuel rationing.

The government said that the income generated from the reform would help to purchase basic goods and medicines, pay pensions and employees of state-owned institutions, easing the burden of US sanctions on the national economy.

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