According to the National Iranian Oil Company, Hamid Bovard made the remarks Tuesday during a meeting of NIOC public relations officials attended by Saman Ghodousi, the Oil Ministry’s director of public relations and spokesperson.

Bovard emphasized the importance of public relations missions in promoting a culture of information-sharing aligned with the oil industry’s operational processes, saying a review of the structure and responsibilities of oil sector PR departments is essential.

He said the role of public relations in the oil industry has evolved over time from merely supporting executive processes to taking responsibility for communications and building connections between the industry and society.

“Because of the technical and operational complexity of the oil industry, public relations functions must move beyond simple information dissemination and become part of the operational execution of organizational processes,” he said.

Public Relations Must Become Strategic Arms of Management

Bovard, who also serves as deputy oil minister, said public relations departments should move away from ceremonial and limited media roles and become analytical and strategic arms of management.

“The current structure of public relations departments no longer meets the oil industry’s needs,” he said. “They must be redesigned with a fresh perspective that reflects today’s media environment, public opinion and the industry’s complex conditions.”

He also referred to legal restrictions and national considerations surrounding the publication of statistics, news and reports on the achievements and sacrifices of oil industry workers, saying the industry must rely on indirect, targeted and creative communication methods to present overlooked achievements to the public.

“In conditions where direct publication of much information is not possible, public relations teams must use storytelling, process explanation, highlighting human and technical achievements and modern communication tools to effectively deliver the oil industry’s message to society,” he said.

 Wartime Achievements Often Went Unpublicized

Bovard noted that the scale of projects carried out by the National Iranian Oil Company is enormous in both financial and operational terms, but some achievements could not be fully publicized because of restrictions and sensitivities.

As an example, he said several major projects were inaugurated last year by video conference in the presence of President Masoud Pezeshkian, including projects related to associated gas collection.

He added that during the “third imposed war,” development of the Khartang oil field was completed and brought online, but wartime conditions prevented full media coverage of the achievement.

Bovard described the conflict as a hybrid war focused heavily on the oil sector and said many important actions taken by the industry during that period could not be publicized because of the sensitivity of the situation.

Recalling the sacrifices of oil industry workers during the conflict, he said employees continued working without interruption despite wartime pressures.

“Even in operational regions targeted by enemy attacks, my colleagues never left their workplaces for a single day,” he said.

He cited Kharg Island as an example, noting that the island was bombed repeatedly while oil industry operations there continued uninterrupted.

Bovard reiterated the importance of smart and indirect communication strategies, saying the success of oil industry public relations departments depends on understanding existing limitations, accurately recognizing audiences and moving toward intelligent and professional communications that can strengthen public trust and improve the industry’s public standing.