Under pressure from other groups in Iran’s regime, President Rouhani received a welcome boost from Parliament on Tuesday.
The Majlis approved three nominees in the first Cabinet reshuffle since Rouhani took office in August 2013 — Reza Salehi Amiri as Culture Minister, Massoud Soltani Far as Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, and Fakhreddin Ahmadi Danesh Ashtiani as Education Minister.
All three men were rejected by Parliament soon after Rouhani’s inauguration. Hardliners tried to block them again when they were named by Rouhani earlier this month, accusing them of involvement in the mass protests after the disputed 2009 Presidential election.
However, the President had been praised by reformists and some conservatives for the Cabinet changes — even if he was chided for being months late — and that support continued through the vote.
Addressing the Majlis with support for his nominees, Rouhani said, “Cooperation between the Parliament and the government will benefit the great Iranian nation.” He then turned on opponents — including commanders of the Revolutionary Guards — who are campaigning against the Government’s pursuit of foreign investment, needed for a promised economic recovery.
Today, international organizations and the whole world admit that Iran is the best and safest country for foreign investment, despite the fact that some revolutionary people do not understand or comprehend the country’s problems…..
The Iranian nation adopted the path of moderation [in the 2013 Presidential] elections with a loud voice; and that shout was reiterated once again [in the February 2016 Parliamentary elections].
With January’s implementation of the July 2015 nuclear deal with the 5+1 Powers, Rouhani has hoped for trade and investment to support a 5% growth in GDP. However, a new oil contract with foreign companies has been held up for months — in part because of Guards objections — and deals such as the purchases of France’s Airbus passenger planes have been delayed by issues over US sanctions.
The Guards, with extensive holdings in the Iranian economy, went on the offensive earlier this month against Rouhani. Guards commander Mohammad Ali Jafari claimed on October 17 that “some officials” have “conflicting views” with the Supreme Leader because they are “looking outwards” for “solutions to the country’s problems”.
Rouhani responded three days later:
We must be hospitable. The Iranian people have been and are hospitable. We need to be so for our tourism industry. We must be hospitable to traders, merchants, and investors who want to enter the country. They must be able to enter and leave Iran comfortably.
However, the following day Friday Prayer leaders — who work with guidelines from the Supreme Leader’s office — denounced the President’s approach of “constructive engagement”.
See Iran Daily, Oct 22: Clerics Support Revolutionary Guards in Fight with Rouhani
