Shahram Ahmadi, director general of health, safety and environment at the Oil Ministry, said that more than 6,800 firefighters now serve at 335 stations across the industry. He said their work goes beyond fighting fires. Firefighters are required to be present during high-risk jobs such as welding, cutting and leak control, he said.

Ahmadi said crews were at the scene from the first moments when facilities were struck, including oil depots in Tehran and Karaj, refineries, and petrochemical zones in Mahshahr and Asaluyeh. Many units cut staffing by 20 to 30 percent during the conflict, he said, but firefighting teams added personnel by combining shifts. Off-duty firefighters volunteered to help, he added.

He cited the Rey depot in Tehran, where a second attack came about 50 minutes after the first. Crews withdrew safely and returned once conditions allowed. On Siri Island, a six- to seven-hour boat trip from shore, firefighters managed the emergency without helicopter support, he said.

Ahmadi acknowledged shortcomings. Equipment shortages persist in some areas, and hands-on training still falls short of international standards, partly because sanctions complicate sending staff abroad. He said companies are prioritizing funding for safety gear, and some have bought automated firefighting robots. The ministry is also expanding the use of drones and aerial ladder trucks.

Ahmadi also stressed a culture of safety, saying workers should be able to report hazards without fear of blame. "Every person who enters an oil facility must return home safely to their family," he said.

He thanked firefighters for staying at oil facilities in all conditions and described the day as a reminder of the sacrifice of those who died at Abadan.