President Massoud Pezeshkian of Iran faced an unexpected transportation crisis when his official convoy broke down completely, forcing him to continue his journey to Tabriz by taxi after contaminated fuel disabled all three presidential vehicles. The opposition outlet Iran International reported the incident Thursday, citing a presidential office official. The claim comes days after Pezeshkian said he narrowly escaped Israeli assassination during the recent war, although there is no sign the faulty vehicles were deliberately tampered with.
The president's special inspector, Mostafa Molavai, disclosed that the vehicles transporting Pezeshkian and his security detail suffered simultaneous breakdowns near Takestan in Qazvin province following a refueling stop at a roadside service station. Molavai addressed the incident during a recent visit to Qazvin's provincial headquarters.
"The president and his security team set out for Tabriz by car. They stopped for fuel at a highway service station, and within a short time all three vehicles malfunctioned before reaching Takestan," Molavai recounted. "Our investigation determined that the station was distributing substandard fuel contaminated with water. This particular station has a record of such infractions."
The National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company acknowledged previous complaints filed against the station concerning fuel quality problems, though officials offered no explanation for why the facility remained operational.
Iran International noted that fuel contamination represents an ongoing challenge throughout Iran, with motorists regularly reporting gasoline diluted with water and fuel gauge malfunctions. Former Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh stated in 2021 that roughly 400 gas station operators face charges each year for comparable violations.
