Severe Fuel Crisis Hits Baghdad and Governorates as Authorities Attribute Causes to Regional Tensions

mniraq - The capital, Baghdad, along with several governorates, is experiencing a severe shortage of petroleum products, leading to long queues of vehicles at filling stations. Sources in the oil distribution sector stated that ongoing tensions in the Arabian Gulf region, combined with recurring electricity sector crises, have negatively impacted the production capacity of local refineries and driven up domestic demand. Conversely, citizens and specialists criticized crisis management mechanisms and the lack of strategic reserves, amid popular and political calls to intensify oversight at gas stations and secure strategic stockpiles to ensure market stability and prevent recurring bottlenecks during regional crises.