A news outlet linked to Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been spreading false claims about Australia’s fuel reserves, amid rising concerns.

Earlier this week, Tasnim News published an article about Australia’s fuel supply, claiming to quote a senior Cabinet minister.

“Australia’s Energy Minister Chris Bowen has announced: We only have 18 days of petrol, 16 days of diesel and 14 days of jet fuel,” the March 15 article states, translated from Persian.

It includes a graphic illustrating these figures, attributed to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water.

The article came as the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran continues to affect the flow of oil and gas around the world due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

However, these numbers are false and represent only about half of Australia’s reported fuel reserves.

The graphic includes the logo for public broadcaster SBS in the top left corner and matches one SBS published in a March 14 article.

However, the figures in the SBS graphic said Australia’s fuel reserve had 36 days of petrol, 32 days of diesel and 29 days of jet fuel and were based on a statement Bowen made in parliament on March 12.

The altered graphic include the logo of Google’s AI tool, Gemini. Photo: AAP

A watermark for Google’s AI tool Gemini is also visible in the bottom right corner in the version published by Tasnim News.

The fake graphic is being shared widely on Facebook and X.

“Australia has 2 weeks of fuel left says Australian Energy Minister Chris Bowen,” one user said.

As of March 17, Australia’s domestic fuel reserves stood at 37 days of petrol, 30 days of diesel and 29 days of jet fuel, according to the DCCEEW.

These figures refer to Australia’s domestic fuel reserves and the number of days it would last if no shipments arrived. However, the ABC reports that oil and gas supply is continuing to arrive in the country.

On Friday, Bowen said there was plenty of fuel available to get through April, and additional releases from reserves were on the table.

“Fuel suppliers will continue and are locked in and will continue to arrive,” he said in Brisbane.

But beyond late April, the situation was more uncertain and depended on international events, he said.

“We will release more of the strategic fuel reserve if we have to, but only if we have to. It’s there for a rainy day,” Bowen said.

One-fifth of the national reserve of petrol and diesel has already been released from emergency stockpiles, including 500 million litres going into regional areas.

Only a “very low percentage” of service stations were out of fuel, Bowen said after reports of outlets running dry in some regional areas.

“[It’s in the] low single digits, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a real challenge for having trouble getting fuel in rural and regional areas,” he said.

-AAP