Updated

Iran's acting oil minister, Hamid Bovard, called on Friday for faster rebuilding of war-damaged oil facilities, which he called a national and strategic priority. Tehran Times, citing IRNA, reported that at a meeting on reconstruction plans for damaged South Pars refineries, Bovard said progress was favorable but the pace must rise, with phases 9 and 10 needing more focus. He said the projects bear directly on national interests and vital services and should not be treated as merely an industrial task. He said about 95 percent of the country has gas access, so any supply disruption affects daily life. The war cost about 230 million cubic meters of gas production capacity, and peak-day gas imbalances reach about 250 million cubic meters. Part of the lost capacity has returned, but winter demand could still leave shortfalls. He urged public cooperation in cutting household and commercial gas use by about 20 percent. The report gave no costs or completion timelines.