Hamid Bovard, NIOC’s managing director, said the company remains determined to turn the country into a vast workshop for development and to keep the national economy running. He made the remarks during the inauguration of a mobile desalting unit at the Cheshmeh Khosh oil field in Ilam Province.

Bovard honored the memory of Iran-Iraq War martyrs, noting that Ilam was once a battleground but today reflects growth and progress. “Just as the oil industry never stopped during the war, we will continue down the path of development with strength despite today’s sanctions,” he said.

Recalling wartime experiences, Bovard said southern oil facilities were bombed more than 300 times and export terminals more than 2,000 times, yet production and exports never ceased. “Today too, development projects are being pursued seriously across the country despite sanctions,” he added.

He highlighted technology transfer as a key benefit of oil projects, saying modern processing and desalting technologies are being applied in the region for the first time and may be expanded to other fields based on the results.

Bovard also pointed to the need for sustainable ties with local communities. A comprehensive study with Shahid Beheshti University is underway in Ilam to design a long-term model for industry-community engagement, he said.

The deputy oil minister further stressed the importance of strengthening local contractors, saying domestic firms should play a greater role in projects to generate added value for the province while creating jobs and encouraging local participation.

Bovard reiterated that NIOC is committed to overcoming external pressures and sanctions by turning Iran into a hub of development and keeping the national economy’s engine running.