Ahmad Mohammadi pointed to Iran’s vast oil and gas reserves, noting that the country ranks second globally in fossil fuel resources. "Nations that have maximized their resource potential have achieved development by attracting investment, effectively extracting reserves, and stimulating their economies," he said.

Highlighting Iran’s low oil field recovery rate, Mohammadi said the average natural recovery rate stands at around 25%, leaving a significant volume of extractable oil untapped despite over a century of production.

To increase extraction, he stressed the need for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods, which require investment and advanced technology. "Iran must become a key player in the global oil and gas market, ensuring its share cannot be ignored or easily replaced, even under sanctions," he added.

If a growth-oriented approach is implemented, Mohammadi argued, it would attract domestic investment, improve production, reduce investment risks, and encourage foreign investors to enter Iran’s market. However, he noted that foreign investment also depends on creating the right conditions, including stronger regulatory and facilitative roles for the Oil Ministry and the National Iranian Oil Company, as well as greater private sector participation in oil projects.

 Revising existing contracts, designing new models 

Mohammadi praised the "Transformation in Investment and Development in Iran’s Upstream Oil and Gas" event as a positive step, saying such initiatives to showcase investment opportunities could yield tangible results if backed by serious government commitment.

To enhance the effectiveness of oil and gas investment events, he proposed forming a high-powered task force to review existing contracts and design new contractual models. "This would professionally organize investment attraction in the oil industry within a defined timeframe," he said.