IRAN INTERNATIONAL -- A nationwide trucker strike in Iran, now entering its second week, is exposing the government's limited control over the country’s crucial road freight system. Since May 22, more than 400,000 privately owned heavy trucks have stayed off the roads, as drivers across at least 150 cities protest soaring fuel prices, stagnant freight rates, and poor insurance coverage.

The strike was triggered by a planned fuel pricing overhaul set to begin June 21. Under the new system, drivers will face steep fuel costs—up to 250,000 rials per liter—for diesel used beyond GPS-tracked quotas, replacing the current subsidized rate of 3,000 rials. Authorities say the measure targets fuel smuggling, but truckers argue it ignores real-world freight needs and threatens their livelihoods.

The disruption has left highways eerily quiet, with video footage showing major routes cleared of heavy vehicles. Iran has 552,307 registered drivers, but less than 7% of the country’s 433,388 active trucks are company-owned. The rest are privately operated, making centralized control difficult. Despite efforts to double corporate ownership since a 2018 strike, private drivers remain dominant.

The impact is particularly strong in major transit hubs. Tehran alone accounts for 10% of all truck trips nationally, with provinces like Isfahan, Fars, Khuzestan, and Khorasan Razavi also heavily affected.

The government has responded with arrests and intimidation, but the strike continues. The standoff highlights a deeper issue: the decentralized, privately run freight system lies largely beyond the Islamic Republic’s direct control—posing both logistical and political challenges.