Iranian Lawmakers Praise Oil Sector Wartime Performance, Push Energy Reforms

Iranian Lawmakers Praise Oil Sector Wartime Performance, Push Energy Reforms
(Monday, May 18, 2026) 14:04

TEHRAN, May 18 (NIPNA) – Members of Iran’s parliamentary Economic Commission praised the Ministry of Petroleum and the country’s oil workforce for maintaining fuel supplies during recent wartime conditions, describing the sector’s response as “jihad-style management” under pressure.

The comments were made during a meeting between lawmakers and senior executives of the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company, where officials discussed fuel supply stability, gasoline distribution and broader energy-sector challenges.

Seyed Shamseddin Hosseini, head of parliament’s Economic Commission, said Iran’s adversaries had sought to weaken the country’s oil industry through sanctions, military pressure and maritime restrictions, but failed because of the extraordinary efforts of oil-sector managers and employees.

“Managers and workers in this industry neutralized the enemy’s plans through remarkable and tireless efforts,” Hosseini said.

Lawmakers repeatedly emphasized that the public did not experience major fuel shortages during the conflict period, particularly in gasoline supply.

Mostafa Matourzadeh said Iran should “take pride in having such employees in the oil industry,” adding that citizens faced no significant shortages in fuel availability during the war period.

Alireza Zandian also praised Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad for his management of the ministry during the conflict, describing his performance as highly effective.

“He managed the ministry in such a way during the war that we are proud to have such a minister,” Zandian said.

The meeting also focused on long-term fuel management policies and energy-efficiency measures.

Jafar Ghaderi, deputy head of the Economic Commission, called for broader use of renewable energy, conversion of gas-fired power plants into combined-cycle facilities and expanded use of compressed natural gas, or CNG, in public and private vehicles to reduce fuel consumption.

Other commission members, including Fatemeh Maghsoudi and Gholamhossein Zarei, stressed the importance of reforming national energy consumption patterns and pursuing non-price-based methods for managing fuel demand.

The discussions reflected growing official focus on energy security, domestic fuel management and industrial resilience as Iran continues to navigate economic pressures and infrastructure challenges affecting the energy sector.

 


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