Speaking on Sunday, Abbas Kazemi, managing-director of National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC), said Iran is currently importing 3.5 ml/d of gasoline which will reach 6.5 ml/d in the near future.  

The top official said the company would stop production of gasoline in petrochemical plants in the country as soon as it obtains the government's nod to import its needed fuel. 

Kazemi underlined the environmental and economic benefits of importing clean fuel from outside, and said importing gasoline would dramatically reduce production costs of the fuel in petrochemical units as well.  

The senior petroleum official also vowed that gasoline production in refineries will rise to a level that will obviate the need for importing fuel by the end of the current Iranian calendar year to March 2014.

"By the end of the next Iranian calendar year and with launching various phases of Persian Gulf Setareh Refinary, Iran will be needless of gasoline imports," the official said.