Panic buying in Tehran with long queues at petrol stations

Fears of fuel shortages have triggered long queues at petrol stations in Tehran, with motorists waiting at pumps in the middle of the night, residents reported on Friday. In some cases, lines reportedly stretched more than one kilometre. The panic comes amid heightened regional tensions: President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged problems tied to the late-February war launched by the United States and Israel. He urged restraint from the government’s vehicle fleet and cooperation from the public. Authorities said Monday saw more petrol sold in Tehran than at any other time this year. Some stations briefly shut after running out, and officials blamed social-media rumours for record demand.