Iran Oil Minister Resigns amid US Blockade on Oil Exports
“Following the acceptance of Mohsen Paknejad's resignation, Hamid Bovard has been appointed as acting Minister of Oil by a decree from the president,” the presidential office said in a statement carried by state broadcaster IRIB.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad has resigned and been replaced by Hamid Bovard, the CEO of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), Iran’s presidential office said Sunday, as Tehran faces a US blockade of its oil exports.
“Following the acceptance of Mohsen Paknejad's resignation, Hamid Bovard has been appointed as acting Minister of Oil by a decree from the president,” the presidential office said in a statement carried by state broadcaster IRIB.
Iranian state television said Paknejad had first offered his resignation some time ago due to personal reasons, but President Masoud Pezeshkian had rejected the request and asked him to remain in office.
The presidential official said Pezeshkian accepted the resignation after Paknejad insisted on stepping down, and praised his “efforts and sincere service.”
Bovard, who heads NIOC, will now oversee Iran’s oil ministry at a critical time for the country’s energy sector, amid US efforts to prevent Tehran from exporting crude.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a major focal point of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Before the latest hostilities, about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passed through the strategic waterway.
Iran has restricted the passage of commercial vessels and fired on ships it accused of making unauthorized crossings, while Washington has imposed a counterblockade targeting Iranian ports and oil exports.
Earlier in the conflict, fuel shortages and queues were reported at petrol stations in Tehran and other Iranian cities as US pressure disrupted Iran’s economy.