Mohsen Paknejad spoke to reporters on Wednesday after a cabinet meeting, also commenting on his recent trip to Iraq. At the invitation of Iraq’s oil minister two weeks ago, four cooperation agreements were signed, including two outlining joint efforts to capture associated gas in the Missan oil field near the border. This collaboration could enable the field’s development.

Another agreement involves joint offshore exploration in shared waters with Iraq, as well as studies on developing the Khorramshahr oil field, which is connected to Iraq’s Sindbad field.

Regarding the distribution of premium gasoline, Paknejad explained that imports involve costs such as purchase price, customs duties, and transportation. Importers must account for all expenses before determining the final retail price.

On domestic fuel quality, he emphasized that refinery upgrade projects are ongoing. Some refineries currently produce Euro 4 and Euro 5 gasoline in varying quantities. Once the upgrades are finalized, higher-quality gasoline will be more widely available.