The Iranian government postponed the rationing of petrol yesterday after delays in issuing smart cards to motorists, vowing that the scheme would go ahead in 14 days. But prices were raised by 25 per cent, to about 11 cents a litre, still among the lowest in the world.

Few issues are as sensitive in Iran as petrol. Iranians - well aware they have the world's second largest oil reserves - regard access to cheap fuel as a birthright. After days of long queues, there was confusion at the pumps yesterday.