Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has accepted the resignation of Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad, with National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Managing Director Hamid Boverd appointed as acting oil minister.

Mehdi Tabatabai, Deputy Head of Communications at the Office of the Iranian Presidency, announced that Paknejad stepped down for personal reasons and that President Pezeshkian had accepted his resignation.

According to Iranian media reports, Boverd, who currently heads the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), has been appointed to serve as acting oil minister until a permanent successor is named.

Paknejad had reportedly submitted his resignation to President Pezeshkian on several previous occasions, but those requests had not been accepted.

Key figure in Iran's energy sector

Paknejad assumed office following President Pezeshkian's election and oversaw Iran's oil and gas sector during a period marked by international sanctions and regional tensions.

During his tenure, the Oil Ministry focused on increasing crude oil production, expanding energy exports, strengthening cooperation with regional partners and advancing projects aimed at developing Iran's upstream and downstream petroleum industries.

Paknejad also played a leading role in efforts to restore and modernize parts of Iran's energy infrastructure following damage caused during the recent conflict with the United States and the Israel regime.

Acting minister appointed

Hamid Boverd, who has served as Managing Director of the National Iranian Oil Company, will lead the ministry on an interim basis while the government prepares to nominate a permanent oil minister.

The resignation comes as Iran continues to pursue higher oil production, expand energy cooperation with regional partners and manage the impact of sanctions on its energy sector.(ILKHA)