Oil Minister Says Energy Sector Maintained Operations During Wartime Attacks

Oil Minister Says Energy Sector Maintained Operations During Wartime Attacks
(Tuesday, May 19, 2026) 14:05

TEHRAN, May 19 (NIPNA) – Iran’s petroleum minister said the country’s energy industry continued operating without major disruption during recent wartime attacks despite strikes on oil and petrochemical infrastructure, praising workers across the sector for maintaining production and exports under such extreme conditions.

In a message delivered during a ceremony honoring families of petrochemical workers killed in the third imposed war, Mohsen Paknejad said employees across Iran’s oil, gas and petrochemical sectors prevented interruptions to national energy services despite direct threats and attacks on strategic facilities.

“The oil industry, as in the past, has always stood alongside the people and in service of the country’s national interests during critical historical moments,” Paknejad said in the statement.

The minister said workers in upstream and downstream operations, offshore platforms, export terminals, petrochemical complexes and transmission networks continued operations throughout the reported 40-day conflict period.

According to Paknejad, some oil-sector facilities sustained damage following attacks by the American-Zionist enemies, but emergency restoration and reconstruction work began immediately to return facilities to production.

He said operational and management teams ensured that oil and gas production, refining and exports continued despite the strikes.

Paknejad also drew parallels between the recent conflict and attacks on Iran’s oil infrastructure during the Iran-Iraq war, particularly repeated strikes on Kharg Island, which serves as Iran’s main crude oil export terminal.

“Despite bombardments and missile attacks, oil industry workers did not allow Iran’s oil exports to stop,” he said, referring to wartime repair operations carried out during the 1980s conflict.

The minister specifically referenced an attack on the Petrochemical Special Economic Zone in Mahshahr that he said targeted facilities known as Fajr 1 and Fajr 2, resulting in the deaths of six employees from Fajr Energy Company while they were on duty.

Paknejad described the victims as workers who “sacrificed their lives in the service of the nation and the continuity of energy production.”

The remarks were delivered during a memorial event dedicated to employees killed in petrochemical-sector incidents in Mahshahr and Dehdasht, attended by industry officials and families of the victims.

Paknejad said Iran would continue reconstruction and modernization efforts across the energy sector using domestic technical, managerial and scientific capabilities to ensure uninterrupted service and long-term industrial development.

 


Email is required
Characters left: 500
Comment is required