Speaking Wednesday at a ceremony marking Passive Defense Week in the oil industry, Saeid Tavakoli said company personnel faced extremely difficult conditions during the recent 12-day conflict. “Our first decision, in consultation with the oil minister, was to ensure that under no circumstances would the gas network be disrupted,” he said. “But the truth is that if we neglect gas maintenance and repairs, there will be no need for any external enemy to harm us.”

Tavakoli stressed that passive defense is an independent discipline now governed by precise standards and procedures. “Infrastructure resilience and social stability are its two main pillars,” he said. “Unfortunately, despair and fear have increased in society, partly due to an illusion of knowledge.”

Progress Must Be Made Visible to the Public

The deputy oil minister said today’s conflicts are not limited to the physical battlefield. “We are engaged in a war of narratives, a moral war in cyberspace, and an economic war,” Tavakoli said. “We must communicate our positive actions and show the public the progress being made.”

He urged transparency and self-confidence, adding: “We should not underestimate ourselves. Many achievements have been made, and we must present the figures honestly and clearly. When people see sincerity, they will stand with us.” He noted that, according to recent surveys, 62 percent of respondents believe gas exports are the cause of domestic supply imbalances, “while the data provided by the National Iranian Gas Company are accurate and aim to clarify the facts.”

Recalling that last year was the most challenging year for gas dispatching, Tavakoli said teamwork enabled the company to set a record by transmitting 880 million cubic meters of natural gas in a single day. “Part of the country’s energy imbalance stems from the same lack of public trust,” he added.

He also called for turning threats into opportunities, citing improvements in safety and firefighting systems in Assaluyeh as examples of scientific and precise work. “Our duty is to maintain and modernize gas facilities,” Tavakoli said. “Some of the national transmission lines have been operating for 55 years, and their stability must be ensured through care and innovation.”