Instead, he attributed the issue to policies and actions taken by relevant energy sector institutions over the past three decades.

Speaking during an open session of Parliament, Paknejad responded to a question from lawmaker Mohammad-Mannan Raeisi, who asked, "What is the reason for the neglect and lack of attention to the timely storage of liquid fuel for power plants?" The minister emphasized that all members of the Parliament are concerned about the challenges faced by the Iranian people.

Paknejad noted that 10 months ago, on May 1, 2024, the then-oil minister, Javad Owji, sent a letter to the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) outlining concerns about fuel supply for the current year.

He added that parts of the letter remain classified and cannot be disclosed. However, he quoted a portion of the letter, in which Owji stated that due to the inability to supply more diesel than the previous year's output to compensate for gas shortages, it would be necessary to use fuel oil to address the gas deficit.

The minister highlighted that the letter included a table and requested the Secretary of the SNSC to initiate the use of fuel oil in power plants. Paknejad stressed that the letter contained two key points: first, the gas resource shortage in the country had been evident since the beginning of the year, and the Oil Ministry of the 13th administration had clearly addressed the issue and proposed solutions.

He explained that the reason for the shortage was straightforward, noting that gas exports to Turkey were halted for four months last year.

Paknejad reiterated that the current energy challenges are rooted in long-term decisions and actions, rather than recent developments.