Enemies to see Iran in ‘weakest position’ only in dreams: Pezeshkian
Ahvaz oil desalination plant inaugurated
President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday dismissed the notion that Iran had plunged to its “weakest position,” saying the country would not end up in what its enemies were dreaming about.
“Our adversaries are assessing that Iran is now in its weakest position but they should only dream on that their plans will come true,” Pezeshkian told a group of businesspeople and industry owners in Ahvaz during a visit to the southwestern province of Khuzestan.
“There is no way we will let Iran end up in the state they (enemies) imagine,” Pezeshkian added.
He gave assurances that Iran would overcome challenges including energy shortages among others with the help of the people and the efforts of officials.
“We are working consistently and systematically to deal with shortages,” Pezeshkian pointed out.
He noted that while his government inherited shortages in energy and other sectors, great efforts had been made to mitigate them, including preventing a potential gas and electricity crisis earlier this year.
He reiterated his commitment to utilizing all national resources to address shortfalls and improve conditions.
Pezeshkian further called for solidarity and collaboration to achieve progress, expressing confidence that with the support of the people, Iran could overcome its challenges and achieve regional leadership.
He acknowledged the complaints and demands raised by the public and business community, attributing many issues to inefficient structures inherited from previous administrations.
The president expressed frustration over the governments’ underperformance in Khuzestan despite its abundant resources, including water, fertile land, underground resources, and access to the sea.
He stressed that such conditions are unacceptable and vowed to address these challenges by empowering local officials and leveraging capable individuals regardless of ethnicity, religion, or gender.
Pezeshkian highlighted efforts to delegate authority to provincial governors, enabling them to collaborate with the private sector and local communities to resolve issues without needing to refer them to Tehran.
Pezeshkian and his delegation arrived in Khuzestan for a two-day visit on Wednesday, marking the administration’s fourth provincial trip.
The president was accompanied by several cabinet members, including the ministers of oil, energy, roads and urban development, cultural heritage, agriculture, welfare, and health, as well as deputies for rural development and women’s affairs.
The large delegation underscores the government’s commitment to the development and prosperity of Khuzestan.
Oil desalination plant goes online
In another development on Wednesday, the largest desalination plant in Ahvaz began operations under Pezeshkian’s directive and in the presence of the country’s oil minister.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad stated that the plant will process salty oil from the Ahvaz oil field, raising the capacity to process salty crude oil by 110,000 barrels per day, IRNA reported.
Paknejad, for his part, emphasized that improving the quality of processed crude oil to meet export and refinery standards is a key aspect of the project.
The project, valued at 58 million euros, is expected to create 180 direct and 400 indirect jobs. Over 85% of the equipment was domestically produced, with 100% of engineering, construction, and commissioning services provided locally.
The plant’s completion enhances the separation of oil and water, ensuring industrial wastewater meets environmental standards, thereby reducing pollution.