Parliament Against 50% Gas Price Rise

Most lawmakers are against a sudden increase in gasoline prices because it will give rise to an inflationary shock, the deputy chairman of Majlis Energy Commission said. Noting that the parliament is not against a reasonable increase in gas prices, Hedayatollah Khademi added that “a drastic increase is dangerous and would hit industries and manufacturing jobs”. Following the unveiling of budget bill last week, Government Spokesman Mohammad Baqer Nobakht hinted that gas prices may increase by 50% to reach 15,000 rials per liter (35.7 cents), Mehr News Agency reported.