“Smuggling of Iranian white oil to the Emirates. This headline has not yet caused any controversy in any news agency. However, it will soon find a place for itself in the news agencies. Fuel smuggling from Hormozgan to neighboring countries is not a new subject. Although occasional news from southern law enforcement authorities about the arrest of various smugglers is published, this profession continues. Along with fuel smuggling, there is also smuggling of food and live animals to countries in the Persian Gulf region. Many of these smugglers have cited the high income and lack of suitable alternative jobs as reasons for their inclination towards these professions.”

According to the statistics of the National Statistics Portal of Iran, Hormozgan province has had the highest point-to-point inflation every month since December 2019. With its various industries and unique geographical location, this province is considered one of the most important economic provinces in the country. It is worth noting that while the unemployment rate in Hormozgan is increasing, it is in line with the increase in the province’s income. In the summer of 2021, the unemployment rate in Hormozgan reached 18.2%, an increase of 4.9% compared to the past. This province has the highest unemployment rate in the country during the summer. The issues of inflation and unemployment have been raised in the local media and newspapers in recent years. Some representatives of Hormozgan have even protested against the issue of unemployment of local youth and the employment of non-locals in companies and industries in the province in the open session of the Islamic Consultative Assembly. In addition, the COVID

In coastal areas of Hormozgan, such as islands and ports, most of the population are seeking seasonal jobs such as fishing and service jobs like tourism. However, in other seasons of the year, they are forced to engage in smuggling goods from sea borders. In western and eastern regions of the province where there is no access to the sea, more unemployed people turn to fake jobs such as fuel, tobacco, and goods smuggling. Smuggling gasoline and diesel has been going on for a long time in southern border provinces. Due to its proximity to Persian Gulf countries, Hormozgan is one of the provinces where the smuggling of goods and fuel is thriving. Despite legal confrontations, the buying and selling market for fuel still exists due to the price difference between Iran and neighboring countries. With the increase in rationing and gasoline prices, the profitability of smuggling this fuel has decreased compared to the past; however, the smuggling of diesel remains a popular buying and selling market.

According to one of the citizens of western Hormozgan, some of the drivers of heavy vehicles such as Isuzu and trailers only make a living from their monthly diesel fuel ration. “They park their vehicles in the garage and get their monthly ration from the gas pump in a few days and sell it to fuel dealers. Each trailer can use more than 300 liters of its ration each time. They may sell each barrel of 200 liters of diesel for one to one and a half million tomans. The final price is negotiable. These drivers mostly only use their fuel ration throughout the year; whenever they have a load, they hit the road.” With the decline of the gasoline market, seasonal smuggling of white oil has revived in Hormozgan. Each household receives a monthly ration of 200 liters of oil. Fuel dealers buy each barrel of 200 liters for 800,000 tomans from families. Then they transfer the purchased oil to the nearest coastal city like Bandar Chark

But the question that arises is, what percentage of the budget of each government institution is allocated to creating real jobs and supporting entrepreneurs? Have employment policies so far only been aimed at enriching the capitalists? Has enough support been provided for workers who have turned to entrepreneurship and self-employment due to not receiving sufficient wages? Does the government not increase smuggling of goods and fuel with its economic policies? These are questions that must be addressed before tackling the issue of smuggling and it is necessary for officials to pay special attention to them.