Iranian Oil Chief Denies Report of Oil Sales Contract Approved by Minister
Hamid Bourd says the National Iranian Oil Company sells crude under defined rules and regulatory oversight, while warning that sensitive information should be pursued through official channels.
Hamid Bourd, managing director of the National Iranian Oil Company, denied media reports alleging that the company sold oil to an individual identified as “Aghayari” under authorization from the oil minister. He said oil sales follow defined rules and procedures and are subject to oversight, while warning that sensitive information about sanctions-related projects and oil sales should be handled through official channels. The available report contains the company’s denial but no independent documentation of the alleged contract.
**TEHRAN —** The managing director of the National Iranian Oil Company has denied reports alleging that the company entered into an oil-sales contract with an individual identified as “Aghayari” with the approval of the oil minister.
Hamid Bourd said the company conducts oil sales within a defined framework of rules, regulations and internal procedures, while observing the requirements of supervisory institutions. His comments were reported by Iran’s IRNA news agency, citing the Ministry of Oil.
“Recently, reports have been published in some media outlets about oil sales,” Bourd said, referring to reports attributed to the Iranian news agency ILNA. “I deny this matter.” He did not provide further details about the reports or identify the individual mentioned in them beyond the name cited in the allegations.
Bourd’s denial focused on the procedures governing the National Iranian Oil Company’s sales activity. He said oil is sold according to the company’s established rules and instructions and that the process is carried out with consideration for the obligations imposed by oversight bodies.
The executive said similar issues had arisen in the past. He also referred to what he described as special projects intended to circumvent sanctions, saying that such projects did not need to be discussed publicly or in the media. According to Bourd, public discussion of those matters could amount to “playing on the enemy’s field.”
Bourd called on media professionals to follow oil-sales matters and related news through the appropriate channels. He said the widespread publication of such reports might not serve the country’s interests and that analyzing them could assist Iran’s adversaries. At the same time, he said the National Iranian Oil Company was accountable to supervisory authorities.
“If anyone has concerns or questions, legal authorities, including the judiciary and supervisory institutions, exist,” Bourd said, adding that the National Iranian Oil Company is answerable to the relevant bodies.
He described information related to oil sales as highly sensitive, comparing it to the country’s classified and wartime information. Bourd urged media figures to take that sensitivity into account when reporting on the subject.
The statements constitute an official denial of the reported contract allegation. The supplied report does not include the text of the original claim attributed to ILNA, documentation concerning any alleged agreement, or an independent response from the parties mentioned. It therefore establishes the company’s position but does not independently verify the underlying allegation or provide additional evidence about it.
Bourd also praised National Iranian Oil Company employees, describing them as being on the front line of the country’s economic effort. He said employees were working to achieve what he characterized as record performance across several areas, including production, development and exports.