Speaking on Sunday at the Oil Industry Martyrs' mourning pavilion, Sediqeh Khazaei said the large public turnout at the farewell ceremony reflected the deep respect people held for the Martyred Leader, a compassionate and wise figure who devoted his life to Iran's independence, dignity, and progress.

"Although he is no longer among us, it is now the responsibility of the people to continue his honorable path. We hope to remain dedicated to serving the Iranian nation with all our strength," she said.

Khazaei reaffirmed the oil industry's readiness to serve the country, saying employees had already demonstrated their commitment during the 40-day war by maintaining uninterrupted energy services despite difficult conditions.

"On behalf of all my colleagues in the oil industry, I assure the nation that, just as we proved during the recent conflict, we will take every necessary measure to preserve stable operations, protect Iran's independence, dignity, and strength, and defend our homeland," she said.

The deputy minister said the industry's continued pursuit of self-sufficiency reflects the Martyred Leader's emphasis on the Resistance Economy strategy and reducing the impact of sanctions.

Recalling the martyred leader's visit to the South Pars gas field during the 2010s, Khazaei said he consistently encouraged the implementation of Resistance Economy policies and greater domestic capabilities. She added that, as one of Iran's key economic sectors, the oil industry worked throughout his leadership to lessen the effects of sanctions while strengthening domestic expertise and achieving greater self-reliance.

Khazaei noted that the industry has repeatedly broken production records despite restrictions on access to advanced technologies.

"Relying on the knowledge, expertise, and capabilities of Iranian specialists, our oil industry has designed, supplied, and developed the equipment, technologies, and infrastructure needed to sustain production," she said.

She added that the industry intends to continue fulfilling the late leader's vision under the guidance of Iran's current leadership by protecting production, expanding output, and developing value chains linked to the oil sector.

Concluding her remarks, Khazaei referred to damage sustained by some oil facilities during the third imposed war, saying employees acted swiftly to maintain stable production. She expressed confidence that reconstruction efforts would soon yield positive results, enabling the industry to announce further progress in restoring capacity and sustaining production.