Mohammadreza Heidarzadeh said that at this stage, the impact of the transfer is evident more in decision-making quality and the planning environment than in operational cost figures.

“The most important change for us is moving toward greater predictability in cost structures,” he said. “This allows companies to make operational and investment decisions with a medium-term perspective and based on clearer scenarios. Naturally, as mechanisms are stabilized, the quantitative effects will gradually become more transparent.”

Heidarzadeh said the decision also signals an understanding of the petrochemical sector’s importance to the national economy and capital markets. Assigning the responsibility to a specialized body such as NPC, he added, indicates the 14th administration’s intent to separate macro policymaking from direct executive intervention and move toward more expert-driven models.

“If this path is accompanied by continued dialogue with the private sector, it can be seen as a positive signal for industry stakeholders,” he said.

Stability, Predictability Key to Sustainable Development

Heidarzadeh said stability and predictability in key cost variables are prerequisites for sustainable development. If NPC’s arbitration moves toward clear, formula-based frameworks with defined time horizons, he said, it could reduce risks that have previously hindered long-term planning and help strengthen a development-focused outlook at companies.

On the impact of the transfer on investor and shareholder confidence, Heidarzadeh said capital markets are particularly sensitive to decision-making volatility.

“Shifting the arbitration reference to a specialized and well-recognized institution sends a message to investors that decisions will be made within a professional framework rather than on an ad hoc basis,” he said. “Trust is built gradually, and consistency in the current approach will play a decisive role in reinforcing that trust.”

Institutionalized Engagement With Private Sector

Heidarzadeh described NPC’s “non-prescriptive” approach to pricing arbitration as an effort to move away from purely directive policies and toward incorporating technical and economic input from stakeholders.

“This is naturally an evolutionary process,” he said. “As mechanisms are completed, the impact of this approach should become more visible in final decisions. What matters is that the overall direction is toward engagement and expert-driven logic.”

He noted that concerns from the private sector are common during structural changes and not unique to the petrochemical industry, but said the creation of dialogue channels and solicitation of company feedback are positive signs.

“If this engagement continues in an institutionalized and sustained manner, it can gradually ease concerns and lead to greater alignment between government and corporate interests,” he said.

Heidarzadeh added that if the model is implemented properly—based on transparency, stability, expertise and stakeholder participation—it could serve as a reliable template for addressing other challenging areas of the industry.

“The success of this model lies not in the transfer itself, but in how it is executed and adherence to professional principles,” he said. “That could provide a valuable experience for the country’s industrial policymaking.”