Sediqeh Khazaei made the remarks Sunday at a ceremony marking Transportation Week at the Oil Ministry. She congratulated attendees on the birth anniversary of Fatemeh Zahra and, ahead of the month of Rajab and the birth anniversary of Imam Ali, expressed hope that the period would bring positive developments for the oil sector.

She also paid tribute to martyr Mohammad Javad Tondguyan, noting that he was taken captive during a visit to operational areas. Operations, she said, are not limited to equipment alone and rely fundamentally on human and intellectual capital.

A historic decree and Transportation Day

Khazaei underscored the importance of fleets and transportation management, saying a significant share of oil industry activities depend on them.

She recalled that in 1983 the founder of the Islamic Republic designated Transportation Day at a time when the country’s ports were nearly inactive and essential goods were stranded at Imam Khomeini Port. Following a historic decree by Ruhollah Khomeini, transport operators and truck drivers mobilized to clear the cargo. In 1997, she said, the same decree led to the formal observance of Transportation Day and Week.

Transportation as an industry lifeline

Calling transportation the lifeline of industry, Khazaei said it generates momentum across all sectors, with heightened importance in oil due to its sensitivity and role as an economic driver. Transportation should not be viewed merely as moving goods, she said, but as a specialized component of oil and gas production operations.

A substantial portion of oil industry activity occurs in transportation, she added, employing large numbers of workers—from network managers to drivers operating in the field. From exploration through facility construction and project delivery, transportation fleets operate under challenging climatic conditions, she said, noting progress such as management dashboards and maintenance programs despite past underinvestment.

Toward an integrated transportation system

Khazaei said plans are underway to establish a comprehensive transportation system covering not only vehicles but also workforce skills and activities, enabling knowledge management and smart oversight. Such a system, she said, would support a structured, networked approach across the oil industry.

As the policymaker and logistics lead within the sector, the Oil Ministry’s management development and human capital department is responsible for transportation, she said, calling for structural integration across main companies, ministry headquarters and subsidiaries in line with Articles 43 and 105 of the Seventh Development Plan.

She added that transportation personnel are currently dispersed across support, engineering, technical, operations and production units, and that clarifying roles is necessary to gradually reform the structure.

Standing together as one chain

Khazaei praised transportation colleagues, particularly drivers, for their service during the 12-day war, saying images from that period show drivers, firefighters and security personnel among the first responders after attacks. Their actions reflected selflessness, she said, with workers focused on duty rather than escape.

Transportation’s role in industry resilience is decisive, she said, noting that many workers sacrifice time with family to safeguard production and economic stability during crises.

She acknowledged that transportation units often sit low in organizational hierarchies with limited growth prospects, adding that efforts are underway to establish transparent structures and rationalize organizational grades across the oil sector.

Fleet rules and continuous management

Khazaei pointed to regulations under Article 10 of the Auto Industry Organization Law, saying government-issued bylaws contain shortcomings. Some vehicles with ongoing operational value are slated for retirement solely due to age, she said, without replacement funding. Correspondence with the Cabinet is underway, she added, arguing that decisions should not be based on age alone if the sector’s vital arteries are to be preserved.

Fleet management must be continuous rather than episodic, Khazaei said, to avoid sudden budget pressures. She also called for company input in selecting vehicles suited to the oil industry’s specialized operations.