Tehran could become an importer of gasoline in a year with continued growth in fuel consumption, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday.

According to Rouhani, a plan was adopted to introduce quotas and increase fuel prices to maintain self-sufficiency and control gasoline consumption, TASS reported.

The 310 trillion Iranian rials (about $ 2.5 billion) raised from this initiative will go to help the vulnerable segments of society, he added.

The situation in the Iranian economy worsened after the US unilaterally withdrawn from a nuclear deal in May 2018 and the return of sanctions against Tehran. The Iranian authorities has decided to raise gas prices to 30 thousand riyals (about $ 0.2) per liter, that means a threefold increase in fuel prices. Special quotas were introduced - 60 liters of gasoline per person per month at a price of 15 thousand riyals ($ 0.1).

Protests have kicked off in a country since the decision was made. Demonstrators set fire to the offices of banks and gas stations. Riots were noted in hundreds of settlements. Official data have not yet been presented on the number of deaths; data from foreign media vary from dozens to several hundred people.