Iran to supply Euro 4-5 standard gasoline from March to clean air

Iran will start distributing gasoline conforming to Euro-4 and Euro-5 standards from March 2013 as part of its efforts to reduce air pollution, a Press TV report says.

Ali Mohammad Shaeri, deputy head of the Department of Environment, told Press TV that motor vehicles account for 70 percent of air pollution in the Iranian capital city.

He called on car manufacturers and gasoline producers to work together to save the environment.

Shaeri said all carmakers would be obliged to manufacture cars meeting Euro-4 and Euro-5 standards.

“Refiners will also have to produce Euro-4 and Euro-5 fuel,” he added.

Motorists interviewed by Press TV complained that the quality of fuel has fallen and say they see no difference between premium and regular gasoline despite the sharp difference in their prices.

However, Iranian Oil Ministry officials and refiners defend the quality of fuel, saying that critics are politicizing the issue. They argue the sharp rise in the number of cars is to blame for air pollution.

Iran attained self-sufficiency in fuel production after its international suppliers stopped selling gasoline under US pressure.