Iran: Tehran launches reshuffle of energy industry executives

The government has launched a wide-ranging reshuffle of its top energy industry officials, as the Islamic Republic tries to deal with sanctions imposed by the United States. On 18 November, petroleum minister Bijan Zangeneh appointed Masoud Karbasian as National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) chief executive, with the rank of deputy petroleum minister. Replacing the retiring Ali Kardor, Karbasian was finance minister between August 2017 and August 2018; he is a former head of the Customs Administration.