According to the government information office, Elias Hazrati said Sunday in a meeting with Saman Ghodousi, director-general of public relations at the Oil Ministry, and communications chiefs from the ministry’s four main subsidiaries, that public relations teams played a major role during the third imposed war.

He said people from all sectors of society — military commanders, scientists, officials, engineers, workers and students — exposed the enemy through their actions during recent events, and public relations departments had a prominent role in that effort.

Hazrati said the enemy failed to achieve its objectives in the war and gained no accomplishments despite causing heavy material and moral damage.

He stressed the need for accurate storytelling about events and actions during the conflict, saying media organizations and communications professionals must present clear, logical and compelling narratives to prevent the enemy from succeeding in the information arena.

“The enemy failed on the battlefield and was defeated there. The same must happen in the field of narrative,” he said, adding that media outlets and citizen journalists had largely given Iran the upper hand in presenting events.

Hazrati said the nature of the enemy should be made clear to global public opinion, adding that the media played a significant role in reflecting public resilience, the capabilities of the armed forces and government services.

He said assessments indicate acceptable performance in media and narrative efforts, but added that considerable room for improvement remains and many capacities have yet to be used.

Hazrati also cited the Oil Ministry’s communications campaign during the revised gasoline pricing plan for emergency fuel cards, saying it demonstrated effective media management. He said accurate information and rapid responses to public concerns helped ensure access to information and increased public support for the plan.

He emphasized the need for transparent and smooth communication with the public, saying government actions and efforts must be clearly explained to avoid distrust and misunderstanding.

Hazrati also underlined the importance of swift and accurate responses during crises, saying authorities must be able to provide the correct narrative immediately after incidents occur while making effective use of social media platforms.

Oil Ministry Spokesman Highlights Wartime Communications Efforts

Later in the meeting, Oil Ministry spokesman and Director-General of Public Relations Saman Ghodousi thanked communications staff across the oil industry and reviewed sensitive moments during the third imposed war.

He said that from the first moment of what he described as aggression by the US-Zionist enemy, the oil minister maintained an active presence in the wartime command center, while ministry communications officials mobilized to respond to public concerns and shape public opinion.

Ghodousi said oil industry workers were present on the front lines defending Iran, while organized teams with specific missions were active in media units to document enemy actions and record events.

He said real-time management of incidents in the oil sector, maintaining confidentiality at key levels, countering enemy rumors and fake news, and coordinating with relevant authorities on information releases were among the main responsibilities handled by communications teams during the war.

Ghodousi added that the oil minister recently assigned key missions to the ministry’s public relations office, including promoting protection of intergenerational energy resources, supporting energy conservation and efficient consumption policies, and overseeing documentation of achievements and reconstruction efforts following the recent war.

He said several meetings have already been held at different levels to ensure major events and actions are properly recorded, and thanked the Government Information Council for its support.