Associated gases are among air pollutants, which the Oil Ministry is collecting, added the president, continuing, “This is a national wealth that will be preserved after recovery.”

On Sunday, the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Managing Director Mohsen Khojastehmehr said projects for collecting associated petroleum gas (APG) have achieved 70 percent physical progress.

All associated gases will be gathered by the end of winter 2026, he pledged.

Raeisi, who addressed a nationwide gathering of Friday prayer leaders, said the number of knowledge-based companies cooperating with the Oil Ministry stood at 100 before his administration took office, but the figure has now soared to over 600.