Iran’s Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad resigns, and his replacement is set to run the ministry on an interim basis. The resignation is announced by Iranian state media and the president’s office, with multiple outlets reporting that no clear public explanation is provided.

Most reports say Paknejad has served as oil minister since August 2024. They also name Hamid Bovard, chief executive of the government-owned National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), as acting minister. While some coverage cites the broader economic strain linked to the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States and associated sanctions, other reports focus on the lack of a specific reason for the move.

One Reuters-based report says the resignation is for “personal reasons,” while other accounts attribute the timing to pressures on Iran’s economy, including long queues at petrol stations. Despite these differing framings, all sources agree on the resignation and the interim appointment of Bovard to oversee the oil ministry.