Tehran, Oct. 5 -- Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad has resigned from his post, with the National Iranian Oil Company chief stepping in as his temporary replacement as the United States continues to enforce a strict naval blockade on Tehran's petroleum shipments.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accepted the resignation and appointed NIOC head Hamid Bovard as acting oil minister, according to a statement broadcast by state media outlet IRIB.

State television broadcast an interview with a spokesperson from the Iranian presidential office, who explained that Paknejad had previously offered to step down "due to personal issues", though his initial departure request was declined.

Pezeshkian initially urged the minister to stay on dut...