Speaking Monday on the sidelines of a meeting of the Oil Ministry's deputy ministers and a ceremony honoring former National Petrochemical Company CEO Hassan Abbaszadeh, Paknejad praised Abbaszadeh's leadership and contributions during his tenure.

"I witnessed his dedication and comprehensive command of every detail and process during his time at the National Petrochemical Company," Paknejad said. "That reflects the qualities of a professional manager."

Paknejad said Iran's oil industry benefits from a strong pool of experienced and specialized managers who have a thorough understanding of their responsibilities, calling their expertise an important asset for the sector.

He also commended Abbaszadeh's performance at the NPC and expressed confidence that his extensive management experience would enable him to succeed in his new position and continue making meaningful contributions.

At the ceremony, Paknejad introduced Omid Shakeri, the oil minister's deputy for engineering, research and technology, as acting head of the NPC while retaining his current responsibilities until a new CEO is appointed.