Could the mullahs fall?

Last week’s riots over gasoline rationing in Iran are the latest sign of the Islamist regime’s political weakness and vulnerability to economic pressure. Despite the fact that Iran is one of the world’s largest crude-oil exporters, gasoline is rationed thanks to a lack of refinery space and massive subsidies for consumers stimulate demand and create shortages. Last month, the Iranian Majlis (Parliament) voted to increase the price of gasoline from approximately 26 cents per gallon to 64 cents per gallon, but that was vetoed by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and the government on Wednesday imposed rationing and attempted to fix the price at 34 cents per gallon (while on the black market, gasoline is selling at nearly $3.00 per gallon in some parts of the country).

WashingtonTimes