2 hrs ago
Iran Oil Minister Resigns Amid US Blockade on Exports
Iran’s oil minister, Mohsen Paknejad, has left his job.
President Masoud Pezeshkian accepted his resignation.
Hamid Bovard, who leads Iran’s National Iranian Oil Company, will temporarily take over as oil minister.
A presidential office official said Paknejad had tried to resign earlier for personal reasons, but the request was turned down.
The official said Paknejad later insisted on leaving.
The change comes during a conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
Iran has restricted commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, while the United States has imposed a counterblockade on Iranian ports.
The article says the US action is intended to stop Iran from exporting oil.
The Strait carried about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas before the strikes in late February.
Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad resigned, and President Masoud Pezeshkian accepted his departure.
Hamid Bovard, chief executive of the National Iranian Oil Company, was appointed acting oil minister.
A presidential office official said Paknejad had first offered to resign for personal reasons, but his request was rejected.
The official said Pezeshkian had asked Paknejad to stay, then accepted his resignation after he insisted on leaving.
The change comes amid a US counterblockade of Iranian ports and restrictions on commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Who
- Mohsen Paknejad resigned; Hamid Bovard was appointed acting oil minister by President Masoud Pezeshkian.
- What
- Iran accepted Paknejad’s resignation and appointed Bovard as acting minister of oil.
- Where
- Iran; the Strait of Hormuz is a key location in the related shipping restrictions.
- When
- The announcement was reported on Sunday; the News18 article was published October 5, 2026.
- Why
- A presidential office official said Paknejad had cited personal issues and insisted on leaving; the resignation comes amid a US counterblockade on Iranian ports.
Key facts
- Departing minister
- Mohsen Paknejad
- Acting oil minister
- Hamid Bovard
- Bovard’s previous role
- Chief executive of the National Iranian Oil Company
- Resignation reason reported by official
- Personal issues
- Iranian president
- Masoud Pezeshkian
- US action
- A counterblockade of Iranian ports intended to prevent Iran from exporting oil
- Strait of Hormuz traffic before strikes
- About one-fifth of the world’s oil and LNG shipments passed through the waterway
Quotes
Iranian presidential office statement
Statement announcing the acting oil minister, carried by Iran's state broadcaster.
“Following the acceptance of Mohsen Paknejad’s resignation, Hamid Bovard, the CEO of the National Iranian Oil Company, has been appointed as acting Minister of Oil by a decree from the president”
deccanchronicle.com
firstpost.com
news18.com
Mohsen Paknejad
Iran’s former oil minister, quoted by state media before his resignation became public.
“revenues of the oil that we have sold are still coming, and that will continue, God willing”
firstpost.com
Sources
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