Long lines for bread and petrol have formed across Iran as Israeli strikes disrupt supply chains, while banking disruptions and panic buying worsen shortages.
Reports from across Iran, especially in northern provinces like Mazandaran, Gilan, and Golestan, show long bread lines and fuel shortages.
Bread rationing under new bakery union regulations has created extensive queues in provinces including Alborz, Mazandaran, Gilan, and Kermanshah.
Citizens report being limited to purchasing a maximum of 10 flatbreads per person, with some areas of Karaj restricting sales to just four pieces after hours of early-morning waiting.
The situation has worsened in northern provinces as significant numbers of Tehran residents fled north following Israeli and U.S. warnings about dangers facing all Tehran residents.
The sudden population influx has overwhelmed local bakeries, prompting some to operate around the clock.
Videos shared by citizens show people in line dividing the remaining bread among themselves.
Banking system disruptions caused by internet blackouts and cyberattacks have disabled card readers at many bakeries, forcing cash-only transactions that further complicate purchases for citizens without ready money.
Problems with the banking system have also disabled smart card readers connected to the bread subsidy system in bakeries.
As of June 20, authorities announced that bread sales proceeds would be deposited into backup accounts as an alternative system.
Israeli strikes on logistics routes and the transportation system’s focus on moving military equipment have reduced timely flour distribution to bakeries.
Despite widespread reports, state media, including Tasnim News Agency, continue to deny problems, describing any bread or flour supply issues as rumors.
Hamidreza Rastegar, head of Tehran’s Chamber of Guilds, claimed no shortages exist, attributing problems to some bakery workers from other cities not reporting to work due to fear of strikes.
He announced mobile bakeries on June 17, but no reports of implementation have emerged three days later.
From the earliest hours of Israeli attacks, reports emerged of panicked citizens rushing to petrol stations. Footage, especially from the capital, shows multi-kilometer vehicle lines for petrol.
Petrol stations implemented rationing after several hours, allocating 25 liters per vehicle in Tehran, 20 liters in Karaj, and a maximum of 15 liters in other cities. Some reports from small towns and villages describe 10-liter quotas per vehicle.
Citizen reports describe security forces and special units stationed at petrol stations to suppress any protests about fuel.
Northern cities are reportedly more crowded and tense, with long fuel lines lasting hours and occasional arguments. Some stations have shut down temporarily due to running out of fuel.
Black market petrol sales - up to 70,000 tomans per liter, several times the official price - have placed war-displaced Tehran travelers in greater financial straits.
Increased military fuel consumption, disrupted refinery operations, interrupted main petrol transport routes, and increased consumption from citizens stockpiling fuel have all contributed to current problems.
Fuel shortages and increased demand to leave Tehran have driven transportation costs higher.
Private vehicle hire from Tehran to Shiraz has reached about 45 million tomans ($530), and to Sanandaj, 30 million tomans ($350), while bottled water sells for up to 400,000 tomans ($5) on highways.
War conditions have severely impacted the country’s banking system and financial infrastructure.
From the early days of Israeli strikes on Iranian territory, news emerged of cyberattacks on Bank Sepah, Iran’s oldest bank, with claims of complete data destruction.
The “Predatory Sparrow” hacker group, which many believe is based in Israel, announced it had destroyed all Bank Sepah data.
Subsequently, the group’s cyberattack on Iran’s largest digital currency exchange, Nobitex, and theft of millions of dollars in digital currency from people’s hot wallets shocked many.
Banking service disruptions then affected Mellat, Pasargad, Melli, and Saman banks, and several other financial institutions.
The disruptions cut off people’s access to bank account balances through both online and physical means, making bank card use for withdrawals or transfers impossible.
Many people couldn’t get cash from banks, as some branches were closed and others had shorter hours. Some only gave out less than 5 million tomans per person.
On June 20, many citizens, including those without Bank Melli accounts, received text messages from the bank about salary deposits.
Current banking disruptions have created a serious crisis affecting banks, ATMs, and banking systems.
Citizens’ rush to banks for cash withdrawals due to fears of financial system collapse, liquidity shortages from sudden increased cash withdrawals, and reduced resource inflows to the banking system comprise part of the monetary crisis.
Long lines have formed at ATMs as people rush to withdraw cash. Many machines have run out of money because transport problems and cyberattacks have slowed down refills and caused technical issues.
Distribution system and transportation disruptions have complicated cargo delivery to grocery stores and food shops, but many areas, including Tehran, Qazvin, and Ahvaz, report no specific problems accessing basic goods.
Grocery store owners say they’ve run out of items like canned food, ready meals, and dried fruits, with no new shipments coming from factories for days.
Cooking oil and rice have become challenging items for people to access. Government officials describe citizens’ “panic buying” as the cause of these shortages.
The deputy agriculture minister said, “If people continue their normal, daily purchases as in the past, no disruption will happen in supplying and offering basic goods.”
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