Vatani emphasized the need to move beyond crude sales and focus on
completing the petrochemical value chain. “With national resolve, facilitation
for knowledge-based enterprises, and trust in domestic capabilities, Iran can
become a global, technology-driven player in the petrochemical industry,” he
told NIPNA.
Unlike conventional petrochemical operations, Vatani said the
company’s parks aim to utilize local knowledge-based capacities to create added
value. He gave an example of converting methanol feedstock into up to 27
downstream products through innovative processes—work typically beyond the
scope of traditional petrochemical complexes.
Around 70% of investments in the parks, Vatani said, are expected to
come from the private sector. “We’re targeting missing links in the value
chain—areas where the private sector has both the interest and the capacity to
invest,” he added.
One of the flagship initiatives includes developing a fully localized
production chain for 13 types of agricultural fertilizers, starting from raw
materials such as sulfur. This strategy, Vatani said, could eliminate imports
and open pathways for exports.
Addressing misconceptions about Iran’s technological capabilities,
Vatani noted that nearly 85% of catalysts used in the country’s petrochemical
sector are now produced domestically. He cited companies like Smart Catalyst,
which not only meet local demand for urea, ammonia, and phosphate catalysts but
also export to advanced economies including Germany and China.
Vatani, also a faculty member at the University of Tehran, called for
coordinated national efforts to localize technology, retain talent, and promote
balanced industrial growth. “We must abandon defeatist language. With practical
belief in our domestic strengths, we can create sustainable jobs and drive
growth in underdeveloped regions.”
He stressed that petrochemical expansion should be strategically
located—preferably in coastal zones with access to water and export
infrastructure. Currently, all Horizon Persian Gulf petrochemical parks are
situated along Iran’s southern coast, from Chabahar to Arvand.
Vatani also highlighted the role of a new generation of oil and gas
executives—many of whom he trained—urging institutional support for their
initiatives. “These individuals combine scientific knowledge with managerial
competence and are ready to take the industry forward.”
Addressing Iran’s global image, Vatani said the country must shed its
“crude exporter” label. “By extending the value chain, Iran can emerge as a
technology-based economy. Even from saline seawater, it is possible to build
new value chains that can influence global markets.”
He added that the parks have adopted a strategic focus on advanced
technologies, including artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and advanced
chemical processes. “This is not just ambition—it is a plan grounded in
expertise and national synergy.”
“I see a bright, technology-rich future for Iran,” Vatani concluded.
“If we act scientifically, realistically, and strategically, we can get there.”