A 'Dismissal' and Two Resignations in Banks Amidst the Salary Slip Domino Effect

Continuing the saga of salary slips in Iran, news agencies reported on Thursday the resignation at the highest level of three major and important banks in the country: Bank Saderat, Bank Mellat, and Bank Qarz al-Hasaneh Mehr Iran. Fars News Agency titled the change at the highest level of Bank Saderat as a 'dismissal' and stated that Ismail Allahgani, the CEO of this bank, has been removed from his position. However, the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported on Thursday, July 1, that according to unofficial news, these three banking executives have resigned from their positions. This news agency also noted that even the successors of these high-ranking banking officials have been determined. Morteza Akbari, who was a member of the board of directors of Bank Saderat, will replace Siamak Dolati, the CEO of Bank Qarz al-Hasaneh Mehr Iran, and Hadi Akhlaqi has also left the board of directors of Bank Sepah to be appointed as the manager of Bank Mellat. Previously, with the revelation of a bank slip of 240 million tomans belonging to Ali Sedghi, the CEO of Bank Refah Kargaran, whispers of his dismissal began, and after a meeting of Hassan Rouhani's cabinet with Ayatollah Khamenei on July 2, it was finally announced that he had been dismissed and had also returned his unusual bonus. However, Ali Sedghi denied his dismissal on July 5, claiming that the published slip did not belong to him and that he had filed a complaint against the publishers of this slip. On July 9, news agencies reported that the introduction ceremony of Mr. Sahmani, the new CEO of Bank Refah, was held with the presence of Ali Rabiei, the Minister of Labor, and Ali Sedghi. The news of the resignation and dismissal of these CEOs has not been confirmed by official authorities; however, ISNA states that the follow-up by its reporters confirms this news. The issue of revealing the salary slips of some banking, oil, and insurance executives began weeks ago by media close to the principlist faction, targeting the managers of Hassan Rouhani. Hassan Rouhani immediately instructed his first manager to investigate. Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, the spokesperson for Rouhani's government, also appeared on the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting and apologized for this issue, but expressed regret that the issue of a 3,000 billion toman embezzlement during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's administration had not received as much attention from principlist media. The news of the resignation and dismissal of banking executives comes as the Research Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly held its fourth meeting on Wednesday afternoon to examine the reasons for the payment of exorbitant salaries and ways to prevent its recurrence. These meetings are held at the instruction of Ali Larijani, the Speaker of the Parliament, and with the presence of experts from the General Inspection Organization of the country. In this context, the spokesperson of Rouhani's government apologized for the 'unusual salaries' of some managers, stating that a think tank has been formed against the government with certain motivations. The controversy over 'astronomical salaries' has reached the National Development Fund. Nemat Ahmadi stated that the uproar over high salaries is a misdirection. A committee has been formed in the government to legally examine unusual salaries. Mohammad Reza Aref, referred to as a 'commander without an army,' stated that the case of 'unusual salaries' has led to the dismissal of the CEO of Bank Refah Kargaran. Rouhani stated that if there is an error, the government will not hesitate to apologize. Khatami called for senior officials to apologize for unacceptable salaries. The IRGC denied the payment of 'unusual salaries' to its commanders. Banks are required to disclose the amounts received by their managers in financial statements. A judicial official stated that the CEO of Bank Refah was appointed at the insistence of Rouhani's associates.