Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad resigns for personal reasons

(CNN) - Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad resigned from his position for personal reasons, after insisting on resigning despite Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian rejecting his request earlier, an Iranian presidential official announced on Sunday.

The official Iranian news agency, IRNA, quoted the Deputy Head of the Iranian Presidential Office for Communications and Media Affairs, Mehdi Tabatabai, as saying that Paknejad had submitted a request to resign from his position some time ago for personal reasons, but President Pezeshkian did not agree to it at the time.

Tabatabai added, "Given his recent insistence on resigning, it was accepted," noting that the decision came with appreciation for Pakinejad's efforts and services during his tenure as Oil Minister.

Tabatabai explained that Pezeshkian appointed Hamid Burd as acting oil minister, based on Article 135 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, according to IRNA.

The Iranian government spokeswoman, Fatima Mohajerani, had previously confirmed that Pakinejad had submitted his resignation from his position, but the Iranian president did not accept it at that time.

Mohajerani praised Paknejad's efforts during his tenure at the ministry, explaining that Bord, whom she described as one of the experienced managers in the Oil Ministry, would assume the position of acting Oil Minister.