History

In January 2012, the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company (NIOPDC) announced that it would begin production of Euro 4-compatible fuel beginning in the middle of the country’s next calendar year. Iran’s 2012 calendar year began 21 March 2012.

By June 2013, Iran began distributing Euro 4 premium gasoline in a number of cities, according to Iran’s Deputy Oil Minister Alireza Zeighami. The cities include Tehran, Karaj, Ahwaz, and Arak.

Iranian authorities cited several reasons for the shift to Euro 4 production:

• The move to Euro 4 would cut exhaust emissions dramatically. The Director of Iran’s Environment Organization, Mohammead-Javad Mohammadizadeh, said in a January 2012 interview with Tehran Times that the change is expected to result in just 7.2 g/km of exhaust emissions compared to the current 50 g/km.
• The country is moving from a past of dependence on fuel imports towards exporting fuels, as it recently became self-sufficient in terms of production. The country wants to increase its production to Euro 4 and Euro 5 standards in order to export gasoline to neighboring countries, according to Iran’s former Oil Minister Massoud Mir-Kazzemi.