Speaking Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the "Strategic Transformation in Iran’s Upstream Oil and Gas Sector, Unlocking Investment and Financing Opportunities in NIOC projects" event, Paknejad referenced the Leader’s designation of this year as "The Year of Investment for Production," calling it a comprehensive roadmap for all economic sectors, particularly oil and gas. "Today’s event marks a key step toward realizing this vision," he said.

The minister highlighted the event’s focus on three pillars: investment, production, and structural transformation. He noted that the Oil Ministry has signed 16 contracts under the Iran Petroleum Contract (IPC) framework to develop 23 oil and gas fields, totaling over $27 billion in investments. Nine contracts worth $13 billion are underway, with the rest nearing finalization.

Paknejad cited the recent signing of a $17 billion pressure-boosting contract for the South Pars gas field—the largest such project—expressing hope for its swift implementation with domestic contractors.

$135b in investment opportunities introduced 

The minister unveiled over 200 investment and financing opportunities worth more than $135 billion, stressing their strategic value extends beyond financial scale. Key projects include:

- Development of 100 oil and gas fields 

- Innovative flare gas recovery plans 

- Rapid-build processing units 

- Pipeline networks and pressure-boosting stations 

- Smart wellhead projects 

New incentive packages and contractual flexibility aim to reduce investor risk, accelerate returns, and enhance transparency. "Diverse contract models address private-sector concerns about past limitations," Paknejad said, noting IPC and public-private partnerships (PPPs) will streamline shared and independent field development.

 Oil Guarantee Fund launched 

A €300-million Oil Guarantee Fund, backed by the National Iranian Oil Company, banks, the Energy Exchange, and exploration firms, will issue up to $6 billion in guarantees to support upstream projects. Additionally, "PetroCrowd," a crowdfunding tool, will enable public micro-investments via capital markets.

Other measures include zero-base-rate flare gas allocations for recovery projects.

 Call for national collaboration 

Paknejad urged government bodies, banks, insurers, and industrial firms to unite in driving oil industry transformation, calling it vital for Iran’s economy. "This event reflects the government’s commitment to transparency and investor support," he said.

"Today is the time for bold decisions—ones that will define Iran’s global oil role for decades," he concluded, inviting experts and investors to "embrace these opportunities with confidence."

"Iran’s oil industry is now more prepared than ever to advance with speed, transparency, and profitability."