On Wednesday, Iranian lawmakers began a second round of discussions on the qualification of Rouhani’s five other nominees for ministerial posts.
The debates focused on Mahmoud Alavi, Masoud Karbasian, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi and Ali Rabiei, the president’s picks to head Intelligence, Economy, Foreign, Health and Labor Ministries, respectively.
As in the first session, which was held on Tuesday, supporters and opponents took turns to speak for and against the proposed ministers.
Dr. Mohammad Javad Zarif, Rouhani’s pick for ministry of foreign affairs, stood in front of lawmakers and talked about his programs for the next 4 years in office.
Supporting lawmakers focused on his achievements in the field of economic diplomacy, visits of foreign economic delegations to Iran, regional developments and nuclear negotiations.
Meantime, opposing MPs also maneuvered over banking obstacles, weakening ties with the Latin American countries and Persian Gulf states and inability to take measures against international threats.
In his defending turn, Zarif underlined that “many successes have been achieved during past 4 years, including the normalization of oil sale through eliminating corrupt brokerage and the return of resulting revenue into the country, removing barriers to transportation, entering the country $11.5 billion in foreign capital, increasing tourism, and developing cooperation in the field of science and technology.”
He noted that based on economic diplomacy, Iran’s national strategy is to provide national interests in the unstable environment of the region and the world.
“Economic-oriented diplomacy requires legal and cultural coordination of economic activists,” Zarif added.
On Masoud Karbasian, Rouhani’s choice for Ministry of Economic and Finance Affairs, opponent comments focused on the lack of practical program in his proposed plan.
Supporters of Karbasian, however, said he has been working for about 28 years as deputy minister of oil, industry, commerce and economy.
Despite some criticisms, the turning point in Karbasiyan's work schedule was in Customs, where the rate of smuggled goods decreased from $28 billion to $12 billion. The increase in the stock market share in the financing system and the establishment of international standards in the stock market are among other cases emphasized in Karbasian’s proposed program.
The Parliament mainly demands him to try to solve the root causes of the problems in the country’s economic system, including reforming the banking and tax system.
In defending his programs, Karbasian said the key mission of the Ministry of Economy would be the implementation of the general policy of Resistance Economy within the next four years.
“I will work on programs passed to expand domestic production and reduce unemployment,” he noted.
He also underlined that Customs of Iran has gained the first place at discovering smuggled narcotics and drugs, and second place in fighting against smuggling.
The third session to debate vote of confidence for President Rouhani’s picks for cabinet will be held on Wednesday afternoon.
LR
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