“I thank everyone, including athletes, artists, and influencers, who helped make this campaign a success,” Fatemeh Mohajerani said Wednesday on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting.

She also acknowledged the efforts of energy sector workers, saying, “I extend my thanks to all those working tirelessly to ensure energy reaches people's homes. We hope our industries suffer minimal damage during the upcoming cold season.”

Supporting industries amid energy shortages 

Mohajerani addressed concerns about government support for major industrial and production units affected by power outages.

She noted, “The recent focus on energy savings, including temporary household power cuts, was aimed at maintaining industrial operations. Despite these efforts, some industries still experienced power disruptions.”

She emphasized that uninterrupted access to both electricity and gas is essential for industries to function effectively.

Gov’t plans to address energy imbalances 

Responding to questions about recent closures of schools, universities, and government offices, Mohajerani acknowledged the negative impact on the economy but defended the measures as necessary to sustain industrial activity and provide energy to households.

She explained, “Energy imbalances have been identified, and the government has clear plans to address them. However, correcting past policy mistakes takes time.”

The spokesperson assured the public that the government is pursuing comprehensive strategies to tackle energy imbalances, address banking inefficiencies, and promote economic growth and investment.

“The President has directed the Budget and Planning Organization to develop plans to overcome the current challenges,” she said.

Commending presidential accountability 

Mohajerani praised President Pezeshkianfor his recent apology to the public regarding energy shortages.

 “This was perhaps the first time a president in our country openly apologized. Leaders often shy away from admitting mistakes, but this honesty and accountability are commendable. We all need to practice acknowledging errors and apologizing sincerely when necessary.”

Investigating missing 20m liters of fuel 

Addressing concerns about reports of 20 million liters of fuel going missing daily, Mohajerani described the logistical complexities of tracking such a volume. “Transporting this amount of fuel involves a complicated process. For instance, tracing where the trucks come from and how the supply chain operates is a significant challenge,” she explained.

She confirmed that the matter was discussed in the cabinet meeting, and the President instructed a task force of ministers to investigate the issue.

“Once their findings are complete, the public will be informed,” she added.

When asked whether this constitutes organized smuggling, Mohajerani responded cautiously: “Not necessarily. Some border trade activities may have contributed to this issue, but I prefer not to speculate until the investigation is complete. It’s important to avoid confusion or misinformation before the facts are fully established.”