tehran, Oct. 5 -- Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad has resigned from his post, citing personal reasons, and Hamid Bovard, chief executive of the government-owned National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), has been appointed as acting oil minister.
The development comes as the United States continues to enforce a strict naval blockade on Tehran's petroleum exports.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accepted Paknejad's resignation and appointed NIOC chief Hamid Bovard as acting oil minister, according to a statement broadcast by state media outlet IRIB.
State television aired an interview with a spokesperson for the Iranian presidential office, who said Paknejad had previously offered to step down "due to personal issues". His initial requ...