{"id":158374,"date":"2025-06-22T13:55:23","date_gmt":"2025-06-22T10:25:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.amordadnews.com\/?p=158374"},"modified":"2025-06-22T13:55:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-22T10:25:23","slug":"farshid-khodadadian-highlights-significance-of-historic-film-screening-on-irans-oil-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.amordadnews.com\/?p=158374","title":{"rendered":"Farshid Khodadadian Highlights Significance of Historic Film Screening on Iran\u2019s Oil Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Monday, June 5, 2025, the historic documentary \u201cThe Persian Oil Industry\u201d\u2014originally produced in 1924 by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC)\u2014was publicly screened for the first time with translated intertitles and newly added sound at Tehran\u2019s Arasbaran Cultural Center. The event commemorated the 117th anniversary of the discovery of oil in Iran.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The restoration and translation work was led by Dr. Ardeshir Salehpour, a cinema expert and art researcher, alongside Dr. Farshid Khodadadian, a historian specializing in oil and industrial heritage. Following the screening, experts delivered speeches discussing the film\u2019s importance in preserving Iran\u2019s oil industrial history and its role in documenting the broader Middle Eastern oil heritage.<\/p>\n

Dr. Khodadadian, who also served as one of the event organizers and translated the film\u2019s texts, underscored the cultural and historical significance of both the film and the date of the screening. He particularly highlighted the city of Masjed Soleyman, recognized as the first oil-producing city in Iran and the Middle East.<\/p>\n

Addressing students and attendees, Khodadadian stated, \u201cStudents of history learn that studying the past is essential for understanding the present and shaping the future. The rich history of our beloved Masjed Soleyman, despite its many achievements, holds little value if it does not help us grasp the city\u2019s current reality or contribute to building a better future for this key oil city, which represents a microcosm of Iran\u2019s oil heritage.\u201d<\/p>\n

This screening marked a significant step in raising public awareness about Iran\u2019s industrial legacy and fostering a deeper appreciation of its historic oil industry.<\/p>\n

Dr. Farshid Khodadadian raised a thought-provoking question during the event: \u201cWith such a rich and proud history, why is Masjed Soleyman facing difficulties today? Why do many locals, when June 5th is mentioned, see oil as a curse? And more broadly, why do many Iranians view oil as a burden rather than a blessing?\u201d<\/p>\n

He stressed that revisiting the illustrious history of Masjed Soleyman and Iran\u2019s oil industry is pointless unless it helps answer these questions. According to Khodadadian, watching historical documentaries like this should serve two key purposes: to help both the public and decision-makers better understand current challenges and to inspire efforts toward building a brighter future for Masjed Soleyman and the country.<\/p>\n

Khodadadian pointed out that the century-old film highlights the immense hard work and dedication of those involved\u2014not only the European explorers but, more importantly, the Iranian people and the Bakhtiari tribes who were the first hosts of Iran\u2019s oil industry. He noted that the Bakhtiari community, due to their geographical lifestyle and longstanding cultural traditions, have historically shown remarkable tolerance and openness.<\/p>\n

He reflected, \u201cI\u2019m not convinced that if oil had been discovered in a different part of Iran, with stricter cultural or religious restrictions, the outcome would have been the same as on June 5, 1908. It is this spirit of tolerance and acceptance that turned Masjed Soleyman into a small-scale reflection of Iran\u2014and even the world\u2014a mosaic of diverse ethnicities, religions, cultures, and nationalities.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the remarkable qualities of the Bakhtiari people, who were the original hosts during the oil discovery, is their aptitude for learning new industrial skills. What makes this even more impressive is that the first generation of these workers shifted from traditional livelihoods like herding and farming to industrial labor. Over a relatively short period, they became skilled workers and, in later generations, developed into specialized experts. Today, as we engage in knowledge management\u2014documenting and preserving oral histories\u2014there exists a wealth of experienced and highly skilled personnel across all stages of the oil industry, from exploration and drilling to production and export. Their firsthand accounts form a crucial resource for managing the heritage and knowledge of Iran\u2019s oil industry.<\/p>\n

This researcher also highlights another significant benefit of accessing such historical documentaries: they help correct many previous misconceptions and inaccuracies about the history of oil in Iran. Unfortunately, numerous historical photos and images have been accompanied by incorrect captions and misleading descriptions. Viewing authentic archival films plays an important role in rectifying these mistakes.<\/p>\n

He pointed out, \u201cIn some cases, public relations departments and archival or museum sections of industrial companies have provided inaccurate information in captions, books, bulletins, and even display panels at exhibitions and official buildings. Because these sources are often considered authoritative, they become widely referenced, which unfortunately leads to the continued spread of false information in research.\u201d<\/p>\n

Farshid Khodadadian added that showing and watching such documentary films helps to correct common errors, such as mistakenly presenting a photo of \u201cReynolds\u201d instead of \u201cWilliam Knox D\u2019Arcy,\u201d or using images of the \u201cAbadan Refinery\u201d in place of \u201cMasjed Soleyman.\u201d Fortunately, dedicated specialists are working carefully in this area. For instance, the \u201cZendegiye No\u201d bulletin, published by retired oil industry workers under the leadership of the late Mehrdad Amirghiasvand, has consistently offered well-researched oral histories and thorough documentation. Khodadadian expressed hope that these efforts will continue.<\/p>\n

He also praised the social media page \u201cMasjed Soleyman Gardy,\u201d managed by his colleague Amir Sargholi, for its meticulous focus on authenticity and well-sourced information, making it an important contributor to the documentation of Iran\u2019s oil history.<\/p>\n

The anniversary of the oil discovery at the first Middle Eastern oil well in Masjed Soleyman on June 5th\u2014recently added to the official national calendar\u2014serves as a meaningful occasion to reflect on the present and plan for the future of Masjed Soleyman and Iran. Khodadadian called on everyone to appreciate the significance of this historic moment.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On Monday, June 5, 2025, the historic documentary \u201cThe Persian Oil Industry\u201d\u2014originally produced in 1924 by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC)\u2014was publicly screened for the first time with translated intertitles and newly added sound at Tehran\u2019s Arasbaran Cultural Center. The event commemorated the 117th anniversary of the discovery of oil in Iran. The restoration and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":158372,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[1055,1056],"class_list":["post-158374","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category--en","tag-farshid-khodadadian","tag-irans-oil-industry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.amordadnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158374","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.amordadnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.amordadnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.amordadnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.amordadnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=158374"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/en.amordadnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158374\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.amordadnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/158372"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.amordadnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=158374"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.amordadnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=158374"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.amordadnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=158374"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}