Mohammad Rashidi said that although sanctions have created challenges for the oil industry, the expertise of the Oil Ministry’s skilled and experienced workforce, combined with domestic capacity, ensured the gas network’s safety and stability throughout the cold season, even amid unprecedented gas demand.

He emphasized the need to recognize human capital and domestic capabilities, saying the surge in gas production at South Pars demonstrated that Iran can maintain its energy independence even under the toughest sanctions.

Rashidi described the Oil Ministry’s performance in supplying winter fuel, ensuring uninterrupted gas deliveries to the residential sector, and providing timely alternative fuel to some industries and power plants as commendable.

Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad wrote Sunday, February 22, on the social media platform X that despite severe sanctions, workers at South Pars set a historic record of 730 million cubic meters of daily gas production, providing strong support for managing the country’s winter energy needs.