Iran’s parliament on Sunday voted to impeach the minister of economic affairs and finance, Masoud Karbasian, amid economic turmoil and frustration over the handling of US sanctions.
“Lack of transparency in the Iranian economy, the problems caused after fluctuations in the exchange rates of foreign currencies and disorder in the banking system were among the top areas of criticism against the minister,” Mehr News Agency reported.
A majority of the 200-member parliament voted for the minister’s ouster, dealing the latest blow to President Hassan Rouhani’s moderate government.
Earlier this month, Iran’s minister of cooperatives, labor and social welfare lost a vote of confidence. On July 25, Rouhani was compelled to name a new central-bank governor as the country’s currency faltered.
Rouhani will face a grilling on Tuesday, when parliament is set to question him.
“The questions will mainly revolve around the country’s current economic situation and the government’s policies to control the depreciation of the rial against foreign currencies, as well as foreign-currencies smuggling, economic recession, and banking sanctions,” the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.
Iran is reeling from the exit of the United States from the 2015 nuclear accord, which was meant to be a centerpiece achievement that would usher in a new era of trade and investment for the long-isolated country. Instead, Tehran has found itself facing uncompromising new sanctions ordered by US President Donald Trump.
Rouhani’s government has called on Europe to stand up to US unilateralism and continue doing business with Iran. European officials have made similar calls for economic workarounds, but their multinationals have not shown any appetite for risk.
Over the past week, the French oil giant Total pulled out of the Islamic Republic, while major airlines British Airways, KLM and Air France announced they would be suspending service to Tehran in September.
One can smell Israel’s involvement in all of this.
Iran, looking to business west, is best served building growing and fanning, business east, which they are doing.
They need to move faster now, and that is thing – Iran has tried soft diplomacy, friendly wit, and traditional philosophic detente with the west to keep things secure, the nation comfortable, growing incrementally, manufacturing more at home, and predators at bay….
But with US in freefall to planned Ziochaos, and the global mood shifting, rapid reorganization is mandatory now across all fronts, as survival bites in.
Richard Truong The revolution in Iran in 1979 was about throwing out western stronghold on their resources, as they tried to do in 1953 – wresting oil control from the west.
Don’t worry, the admiration of the west and its media and movies is wearing thinner and thinner.
Rebuilding the Silk Road is welcomed – working with China in this case; my experience of Iranians and Chinese is that of mutal respect with visceral ancient relationship and roots. That I have seen. It might by now have something to do with DNA as well…
For the rest, no comment.
Iran has no choice but to embrace Russia, China, India, Brazil,etc. Big countries that are not easy to push around by the Americans.
To survive, Iran has to identify those that are friendly & trade with them. To those that stay away from Iran, keep them at bay!
Iran is for Iranians! To survive, Iran has to navigate a traitorous route! Good luck, Iran!