Iran's Crude Exports Never Stopped during 40-Day War: Paknejad

Minister of Oil has reported rising oil and gas production, an accelerated flare-gas recovery program, pressure-boosting projects at South Pars, expanded crude processing capacity at joint fields, and an end to diesel imports over the two years of the 14th administration's work at the Oil Ministry — adding that the country's crude oil exports did not stop for even a single hour throughout the 40-day war. Reviewing the oil industry's performance over the past two years, Mohsen Paknejad said that when he took office on September 23, 2024 (1 Shahrivar 1403), fuel storage levels were the first issue raised in a meeting with senior industry officials — and at the time, reports on gasoline and power-plant diesel reserves were somewhat concerning. He noted that September is a peak travel month, naturally driving up gasoline consumption, while diesel stored at power plants would soon be needed as cold weather approached and gas supply to plants tightened due to higher household and commercial demand — requiring plants to substitute diesel for natural gas.

First Report to the President

Paknejad said his first briefing to the president concerned the state of fuel reserves. After hearing the figures, the president responded calmly but with evident concern, simply asking: "What's your plan?" From then on, Paknejad said, the president followed up every three to four days. Weekly meetings were held to review gas and diesel storage at power plants, coordinating between the Oil Ministry, the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade, and the Ministry of Energy to prevent fuel shortages.

South Pars Gas Compression Contract Signed

The gas compression project for the shared South Pars gas field had lagged for years, he said. Within six months of the new administration taking office, technical teams focused on preparing the contract for this development project. He called the contract significant as the first step toward execution, noting that pressure decline at the field — and the resulting drop in output — has fed into gas imbalances that built up gradually over 15 to 20 years, peaking in 2024/25 (1403). The first major oil-industry contract of this term was signed in February/March 2025 (Esfand 1403), attended by the president.

Maintaining Fuel Supply Despite Strikes on Oil Facilities

Turning to the 12-day war, Paknejad said one of Tehran's oil depots was struck, despite its critical role in fuel supply and distribution; the Fajr Jam gas refinery and Phase 14 of South Pars were also hit. Even so, and despite gasoline consumption surging to nearly 200 million liters a day in the war's early days, Tehran did not face a serious shortage in fuel storage, and gas supply held up despite the refinery strikes.

Public Role in Winter 2024/25 Gas Management

Alongside efforts to boost gas output in 2024/25, managing major overhauls at gas refineries was key, he said — these needed to be completed by September, since delaying them to November/December would have cut into available production capacity during peak demand. Public participation was also a major factor, driven by a campaign the president personally proposed, called "Two Degrees Less," which Paknejad said proved highly effective and which the president pushed different sectors of the country to adopt.

11.5 mcm of Flare Gas Recovered Daily

Despite the aftermath of the 12-day war, work continued on oil and gas production expansion plans. A contract targeting a 250,000-barrel-per-day increase in oil output required study and approvals, which came through after the 12-day war; about 70,000–80,000 barrels per day of that target has since been achieved. Flare-gas recovery was a recurring priority for the president, Paknejad said, noting that the topic came up at the end of almost every phone call, regardless of the call's original purpose. The president reportedly told him repeatedly: "Whatever problem exists here, tell me — I'll solve it," to prevent delays caused by lack of coordination between agencies. As a result, since the start of the administration the country has recovered roughly 11.5 million cubic meters of flare gas per day through various projects — work Paknejad called a clear example of preventing the waste of national energy resources.

Over 30 In-Field Wells Drilled at South Pars

In-field drilling at South Pars began in 2025/26 (1404) and progressed well, with more than 30 wells planned across several drilling contracts; a number of these wells have already come online, contributing to higher national gas output. Paknejad said the ministry continued to focus on strategic projects into early 2026 (9 Esfand), when the country again came under attack by the American-Zionist enemy. Several colleagues were killed in the strikes, he said, honoring their memory alongside the oil industry's other fallen during the 40-day war.

Strikes on Tehran Oil Depots and Fuel Supply to Northern Iran

Damage intensified over the course of the 40-day war, Paknejad said. Around March 6–7, 2026, Tehran's oil depots were struck again. He recalled standing on a rooftop some distance away at 8 p.m. and watching the flames as one of the facilities was hit — a deeply worrying moment. The Rey, Shahran and Qouchak oil depots were struck, with loading facilities at the Rey depot damaged; one of Alborz province's oil depots was also hit. The damage to loading facilities was especially serious, since it threatened fuel supply to Iran's northern provinces — precisely the disruption the enemy intended. That same night, officials met to map out a response, relocating some logistics from southern Iran to the north and moving resources from central provinces to Tehran to keep road-based fuel transport running. Paknejad said further measures taken would be detailed at another time. Within a few days, he said, the situation moved from crisis to relative stability, with fuel supply to the north managed effectively.

Rebuilding Damaged Asalouyeh Gas Refineries

On March 18, 2026 (27 Esfand 1404), refineries 3 through 6 at Asalouyeh were struck. Paknejad said he was able to inform the president within 20–30 minutes of receiving the report, and the early hours were tense as officials assessed the situation. A significant share of production had to be cut, he said, but thanks to the technical expertise of National Iranian Oil and Gas Company staff, part of the lost capacity was restored within hours. Reconstruction, which typically begins with debris clearance, started within two to three days of the strike, with coordination meetings held and responsibilities assigned across teams. A significant portion of rebuilding has since been completed, with results expected to show in gas output within a few months.

President's Unannounced Visits to the Oil Ministry During the War

Despite security constraints, the president made several unannounced visits to the Oil Ministry during the war — a period that extended well into the new Iranian year (1405) — even on days when ministry staff had relocated to other buildings for safety. Paknejad described the president's courage, honesty and closeness to people as especially notable during these visits, saying he was struck by how closely the president engaged with technical details outside his direct expertise, often offering genuinely useful input. Paknejad added that he had, as a "younger brother" figure, repeatedly urged the president to take more care for his own safety given the weight the public places on the presidency.

Strikes on Petrochemical Utility Units

In 2026, petrochemical facilities in Mahshahr and Asalouyeh came under calculated attacks targeting utility units responsible for steam, power, nitrogen and other services essential to process units. Significant petrochemical production capacity was lost in the initial days, directly affecting supply chains and, potentially, the availability of certain goods to the public. Coordinated planning with the Ministries of Industry, Mine and Trade and of Energy helped bring the situation largely under control during the war itself, Paknejad said, adding that history will judge how the public and armed forces withstood these conditions.

Public Welfare: A Constant Presidential Priority

Paknejad said ensuring public welfare and meeting people's needs has been a constant priority for the president, who regularly emphasized this across government agencies, each pursuing its specific mandate in line with this overarching goal.

Uninterrupted Crude Exports During the 40-Day War

Paknejad called crude oil exports during the 40-day war one of the lasting achievements of Iran's oil industry. From March 9 until the country effectively entered a temporary ceasefire in late April — which was later followed by a blockade — crude exports did not stop for even a single hour. Referring to strikes on Kharg Island, he said the roughly 23–24 square kilometer island was hit more than 550 times, yet staff continued loading tankers even under bombardment — work he said history should judge, and for which he expressed deep respect for colleagues across the export sector. Exports proceeded without major restriction during that period, he added, even as oil prices rose, with the industry's export mission carried out uninterrupted throughout the 40 days.

Circumventing the Blockade

Paknejad said that in 2026, an initial blockade line was drawn between Ras al-Hadd and Pakistan's Gwadar port. Various measures — which he declined to detail for now — allowed Iran to work around the blockade, enabling oil sales and deliveries to customers thousands of kilometers from the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman. Restrictions on moving oil beyond the blockade line were sometimes circumvented and sometimes not, he said. The blockade ran roughly from April 13–14 to June 17–18, after which there was a pause; Iran used that window to move a significant volume of oil beyond the Gulf and Sea of Oman to deliverable locations, before a second blockade began around July 15.

Continued Efforts to Work Around the Blockade

These blockades remain difficult and continue to affect oil deliveries to customers, Paknejad said, but the industry has not been brought to a halt. Various approaches and measures are being pursued to fully overcome the blockade, he said. Over the two years of the current administration, more than double the flare-gas volume previously recovered has been captured through new projects, he said. Crude output rose through various initiatives, including 70,000–80,000 barrels per day from the 250,000-barrel expansion plan. Iran also set a notable record in raw (wellhead) gas production — gas produced upstream, at oil platforms and gas fields, before refining — thanks to efforts by upstream teams.

Processing Capacity at Joint Fields Up by Over 300,000 Barrels

Crude processing capacity, particularly at shared fields, rose by more than 300,000 barrels, Paknejad said. Closing the gap between production and consumption depends on two factors: raising output — a direct mission of the oil industry requiring investment and time — and optimizing consumption. He stressed he does not advocate for less consumption, but for "appropriate" consumption, which naturally reduces demand when optimization patterns are followed, helping narrow the gap between supply and demand.

"Two Degrees Less" as Behavioral Modeling

Paknejad said consumption optimization has been a particular presidential priority over the past two years, describing minimal lighting in the president's office and his refusal to run air conditioning even in summer heat — not because it meaningfully affects national energy consumption, but as a form of behavioral modeling. The president, he said, has stated that he does this so the public understands that optimization and conservation must start with officials themselves. During ministry visits, Paknejad recalled the president once pointing out a hallway light left on despite other lighting having been reduced, prompting Paknejad to switch it off himself — an example, he said, of the sensitivity needed across all areas of energy use.

Energy Imbalance Built Up Over Decades

Iran's energy-carrier imbalance was not created in the past year or two but has accumulated gradually over roughly 20 years, now showing up at large scale and making the problem harder to address, Paknejad said, calling on the public to continue supporting government efforts on consumption optimization.

Cutting Gasoline Imports With Public Cooperation

Paknejad acknowledged that a significant share of the country's foreign currency reserves goes toward gasoline imports, calling this an undeniable reality. With the right measures, he said, import volumes and the currency allocated to them can be minimized — a goal he considers achievable, provided the public is properly informed and persuaded, which he expressed confidence the Iranian people would support.

President Pursued Flare-Gas Recovery Even During the War

Even during his wartime visits to ministries, the president continued reviewing problems and offering help where needed, Paknejad said. At the end of one such visit, as the president was leaving, he told Paknejad: "Don't forget these flare-gas recovery projects" — a moment Paknejad described as reflecting an unusual level of principle given the wartime circumstances. Paknejad also noted that the president's style of criticism, while direct, tends to be delivered in an engaging way that he said he has never found off-putting, even when directed at various ministers across different meetings. He added that over the past seven to eight months, part of the lost capacity has been recoverable, with project execution continuing at pace and production growth remaining the focus going forward.

Focus on Major Projects

The industry is pursuing large-scale projects already in the planning stage, Paknejad said, with a number of regulatory approvals still needed to move forward. One such project is the unified Azadegan field, combining North and South Azadegan — previously managed as separate projects despite being a single reservoir.

Roughly 17 tcf of Gas-in-Place Discovered

Among the administration's notable achievements, Paknejad cited the discovery of a combined 17 trillion cubic feet of gas-in-place across two fields — Pazan and Trakht — in the southern Fars region.

Diesel Imports Halted After Years of Dependence

Another significant achievement, Paknejad said, was ending diesel imports. Iran imported diesel, much as it did gasoline, through early 2025/26 (1404). A combination of refinery technical upgrades and increased refinery feedstock allowed the country to stop diesel imports entirely for several months now. Iran has since increased diesel reserves for power plants compared with the same period last year and even holds a surplus, part of which is now being exported to a neighboring country following discussions with that country's minister. Paknejad expressed hope that similar measures could eventually eliminate gasoline imports as well.

The "Let It Go" Story and a Book From the President

Paknejad recounted a conversation reflecting the president's perfectionism, in which the president told him to "let go" of a particular issue he kept raising. When Paknejad persisted, the president eventually gave him a summary of a book on the subject, telling him: "Look, no matter how many times I tell you to let it go, you don't listen — read this." Paknejad called the book genuinely calming and said the president's approach is grounded in behavioral theory — a simple phrase underpinned by a broader understanding of human social interaction, relevant not only to work and management but to family life and relationships generally. He described it as a deeply reassuring framework, stressing it is far more than a casual expression. - Shana