President, Speaker, Judiciary Chief Hold Meeting on Fuel Price Hikes
IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK
TEHRAN – The recent decision to triple the fuel prices, which has caused sporadic protests across the country, was discussed on Saturday in a meeting of the Supreme Council of Economic Coordination.
During the session, which was attended by heads of the judicial, legislative and executive branches of the Iranian government, Minister of Interior Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli presented a report on the fuel consumption management plan as well as the economic aid due to be paid to lower-income classes.
The Iranian president, the parliament speaker, and the judiciary chief in turn appreciated the work and services of Rahmani Fazli.
The Council also agreed that all governmental bodies will fully cooperate in implementing the fuel consumption management plan and helping lower-income classes.
Promoting social justice, empowering 60 million Iranians with a focus on lower-income households, combatting fuel trafficking, consumption management and strengthening the economy are among the goals of the programme.
The Deputy Judiciary Chief and the Prosecutor General emphasized at the meeting that the Judiciary will fully cooperate in implementing the programme, according to the president’s official website.
Ali Larijani, the Speaker of the Parliament, called for the participation of all bodies in the successful implementation of the programme, which is based on the Sixth Development Plan Act and the directive of the heads of the trio branches of the Iranian government.
At the meeting of the Supreme Council of Economic Coordination, it was also emphasized that with regard to the provision of resources, the aids would be paid regularly every month, and the payments would start next week.
The meeting came as sporadic protests have erupted in various Iranian cities one day after gasoline prices were tripled without any earlier announcement.
Meanwhile yesterday Prosecutor General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri says ongoing protests over a spike in subsidized gasoline prices has been orchestrated from outside the country, warning that any disorderly conduct would face legal action.
In an interview with state TV on Saturday, Montazeri said the gasoline price hike has been proposed after expert arrangements and carried out within the framework of law.
He said the legal increase in the fuel price would serve the public interests, noting that a group of people seek to take advantage of the situation, foment unrest and disrupt the order in the country.
People of Iran will definitely separate themselves from a small group of rioters that proved their opposition to the Islamic Republic by blocking the streets or attacking a number of buildings, the prosecutor general noted, saying the disruptive conducts have their roots in foreign countries.
The opposition and the hostile currents have been employing the social media in recent days to provoke people, he added, noting, “Such measures and conducts that disrupt public order are considered a crime under the law, and the law enforcement forces and the judicial system feel duty-bound to take legal action against the people disrupting the public order.”
The state TV reported that the police has used tear gas to “keep the demonstrators from damaging public properties.”
