Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said the world’s oil market should not be affected by politics because “interference disrupts the trend of activities in the oil market.”
He made the comments at the opening ceremony of the 23rd International Exhibition of Oil, Gas, Refining and Petrochemical industries.
“Iran has always been looking for logical oil prices, so that producers will be encouraged to produce [petroleum] and the global market will not be destabilized,” Zanganeh said, as quoted by the Persian-language Islamic Republic News agency (IRNA).
He said if the oil industry is supported, it will turn into the driving force behind Iran’s economy.
“In addition to bringing in revenues, the oil industry can give fresh impetus to the country’s economy,” he noted.
The minister underlined that jobs should be created in the industry and contracting sectors.
He also said the necessary financial resources should be envisaged for the implementation of plans in those sectors or contractors will make losses.
Referring to projects to connect towns and villages across Iran to the National Gas Grid, Zanganeh noted that 34 projects are scheduled to get off the ground in the oil industry, and added the plans will create more than 50,000 jobs.
