Malek Shariati-Niasar spoke Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the "Transformation in Investment and Development of Iran's Upstream Oil and Gas Industry" event.

Addressing the critical issue of energy imbalance in the country, he noted that resolving it involves two key areas: consumption management—emphasized by the Supreme Leader and Parliament—and investment in oil and gas production and development.

He added that sufficient laws and regulations, significant hydrocarbon resources, and advanced technology in the oil industry are among the factors that can help address the energy imbalance crisis.

The Energy Committee member highlighted the importance of investment in upstream oil and gas, stressing that energy-intensive industries and petrochemical companies can allocate part of their investments to this sector and benefit from its attractive returns.

Shariati-Niasar stated, "Parliament insists on increasing investment appeal in various economic sectors, especially the oil industry, and we are persistently pursuing this goal in cooperation with the government."

At the event, the National Iranian Oil Company presented over 200 opportunities to large, medium, and small investors under various contractual frameworks.