Mousa Ahmadi made the remarks on the sidelines of a visit to an exhibition of documents and photographs highlighting the oil industry’s role during the Iran-Iraq war. He paid tribute to those killed during the Islamic Revolution, the eight-year war and more recent conflicts.

Ahmadi said such exhibitions help preserve the history of sacrifice, courage and resistance shown by the Iranian people and oil industry workers during wartime and pass that history on to future generations.

He said vital infrastructure has repeatedly been targeted in conflicts because of its importance to people’s lives and the continuity of national services.

“Throughout these wars, the enemy has sought to target the country’s vital infrastructure,” Ahmadi said, adding that in recent conflicts the oil industry — particularly South Pars refineries and oil and electricity infrastructure — came under attack.

Oil workers lead production and reconstruction

Ahmadi said the faith, resilience and perseverance of the Iranian people had helped prevent the enemy from achieving its objectives.

Recalling his experience in Abadan during the Iran-Iraq war, he said he witnessed firsthand how oil workers remained at their posts after the Abadan refinery came under attack and worked to keep operations running.

He said oil workers had followed a similar pattern in recent conflicts, immediately beginning reconstruction and restoration whenever parts of the industry were damaged.

“Just as oil industry workers entered the field quickly to rebuild facilities and resume operations after enemy attacks during the imposed war, they have done the same in recent conflicts,” Ahmadi said.

Expertise and sacrifice sustain the industry

Ahmadi also paid tribute to oil workers who were killed during the Iran-Iraq war and subsequent conflicts, saying many lost their lives while carrying out their duties, while others joined military fronts and fought alongside other troops.

He said scientific knowledge, technical expertise and technology, combined with faith and a spirit of sacrifice and resistance, are important factors in the country’s ability to withstand pressure.

Oil workers today, as during the Iran-Iraq war, remain active in the field, Ahmadi said, adding that recent attacks demonstrated the industry’s determination to maintain operations and prevent damage to vital infrastructure from achieving its intended objectives.

He described oil workers as being on the front line of the country’s economic war, saying their efforts to maintain production, keep refineries operating, ensure energy supplies and sustain exports constitute part of the country’s efforts in that arena.

“Just as a soldier on the front line defends the country using defensive equipment, oil industry workers today protect vital infrastructure through their expertise, knowledge, technology and round-the-clock efforts,” Ahmadi said.

He added that maintaining a culture in which oil workers view themselves as being on the front line of national defense, as they did during the Iran-Iraq war, could help sustain oil industry operations and counter efforts targeting the country’s vital infrastructure.