Brigadier General Seyyed Yahya Rahim Safavi emphasized the prominent role of the oil industry in Iran's history while addressing workers, engineers, and managers in the oil industry, stating: "Iran's oil industry has been at the forefront of defending the country throughout various historical periods, from the victory of the Islamic Revolution to the Sacred Defense era and the current conditions."
Geopolitical Impact of Energy
He continued his remarks by highlighting the importance of energy geopolitics and Iran's position in this regard, adding: "Due to its geographical location, energy resources, and its role in regional equations, Iran is a country of strategic importance." Brigadier General Safavi referred to Dwight Eisenhower's speech in 1952 and emphasized Iran's special significance on the world's geographical map.
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The former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps continued: "Energy is not just an economic commodity; it can be a source of power, a tool of pressure, a target of war, and one of the main indicators of resilience and even the victory or defeat of nations." He also referred to the oil and gas reserves of the Persian Gulf, stating: "Any disruption in the energy flow of the Persian Gulf can have consequences beyond the borders of regional countries."
The Role of the Oil Industry in Iran's Developments
Brigadier General Safavi mentioned three significant epics of the oil industry in the history of the Islamic Revolution. The first epic was the strikes of oil industry workers in 1979, which significantly weakened the Pahlavi regime by halting oil exports. The second epic pertains to the eight years of Sacred Defense, during which oil industry workers played a vital role by maintaining the Abadan refinery and ensuring the continuity of oil production and exports.
He related the third epic to the current conditions, stating: "Today, oil industry workers are on the front lines in the economic war and in crisis conditions." He also referred to the importance of the Strait of Hormuz, saying: "Smart management of this strategic passage can influence regional and global energy equations."
Brigadier General Safavi concluded by emphasizing the necessity of developing the oil and gas value chain, stating: "The conversion of crude oil into products must be pursued with greater seriousness." He also stressed the need for energy conservation in wartime conditions, saying: "A nation in wartime must adapt to the existing conditions, and all sectors of society must participate in managing energy consumption."
He considered Iran's neighbors as one of the country's important capacities for developing energy trade and suggested: "Iran should activate part of its regional capacities through the development of energy trade with neighboring countries." Brigadier General Safavi expressed hope that with the cooperation of regional countries, sustainable security and progress would be achieved in the region.
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