Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was forced to complete part of a recent trip to Tabriz by taxi after all three of his official vehicles broke down. This incident, attributed to contaminated fuel, was confirmed by a senior government official.
Mostafa Moulavi, the president’s special inspector, reported that the vehicles, including the president’s and those of his security detail, stalled near Takestan in Qazvin province shortly after refueling at a highway gas station near the Rasht exit, according to Iran International.
“Our investigation revealed that the gas station had been distributing poor-quality fuel mixed with water. It wasn’t the first time — the station had a history of similar violations,” Moulavi stated during a recent visit to Qazvin’s provincial government offices.
Despite the mechanical failure, President Pezeshkian chose not to seek assistance from local authorities. Instead, he hired a private taxi to continue his journey to Tabriz. “He did not contact the provincial governor or request help,” Moulavi added.
The National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company (NIOPDC) later confirmed that the gas station had been the subject of past complaints regarding fuel quality. However, no clear explanation was given as to why it was allowed to continue operations.
Neither the president’s office nor the Ministry of Petroleum has issued any public statement on the matter.
Ongoing Fuel Quality Concerns in Iran
Fuel contamination remains a persistent issue across Iran. Drivers frequently report watered-down gasoline and tampered pump meters, often noting discrepancies between the volume of fuel received and the prices charged.
While videos documenting these problems have circulated widely, energy officials deny any widespread systemic flaws.
