Gholam-Reza Aqazadeh, who was among ministers received by Petroleum Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh last week, said Iran’s economy will always depend on Petroleum Ministry.

He said that Iran’s economy will grow if Petroleum Ministry’s projects and plans go ahead as planned, adding that any assistance to Petroleum Ministry will be reflected in the economy.

“Oil is naturally not a bad thing. In Western countries, oil is the factor of growth and progress. The important issue now is how to use oil for economic growth,” said Aqazadeh, who served as petroleum minister for 12 years.

The former minister said Iran’s economy owes its growth to petrochemical projects and gas production from South Pars gas field.