Ali-Abadi, with a history of board membership in at least 11 companies during his management at MAPNA, became the Minister of Industry, Mine, and Trade

Recently, doubts have been raised on social media regarding the multi-million salary and academic credentials of Abbas Ali-Abadi, the proposed Minister of Industry, Mine, and Trade (known as 'Samt'). The Islamic Consultative Assembly granted him a vote of confidence without any clarification. On Tuesday morning, after several hours of debate between supporters and opponents of the proposed minister, the Assembly voted 187 in favor, 58 against, and 8 abstentions. Since his introduction to the Assembly, multiple reports have surfaced on social media indicating ambiguities in his academic qualifications and his receipt of multi-million salaries. Previously, VOA had reported that he had a history of board membership in at least 11 companies during his management at the MAPNA Group. Ali-Abadi, 61, who has served as the president of Malek Ashtar University, affiliated with the Ministry of Defense, has been the CEO of the MAPNA Group since December 2009. The MAPNA Group and its affiliated companies are among the largest industrial conglomerates in Iran, constructing large thermal power plants and executing major oil, gas, and railway transport projects in the country. Meanwhile, parts of the vast MAPNA company are listed under U.S. and international sanctions due to the Islamic Republic's nuclear activities and Tehran's risky actions in the region. VOA's investigations indicated that during his tenure as CEO of MAPNA, Ali-Abadi also held board membership or simultaneous chairmanship in at least 11 other institutions and companies, some of which were related to MAPNA. At least 5 of these companies are registered as private joint-stock companies, at least 2 as public joint-stock companies, and 4 as non-commercial companies. Furthermore, Ali-Abadi's presence in various companies raises numerous financial and managerial ambiguities due to his positions. It remains unclear what salaries and benefits he received from these companies, most of which have overlapping timelines. No clarification has been provided in this regard, and the financial documents of these companies are not publicly accessible. Reza Fatemi Amin, the former Minister of Industry, Mine, and Trade in Ebrahim Raisi's government, was impeached on May 10 with 162 votes. The state of the car market in Iran was the main focus of the impeachment discussions, which ultimately led to the removal of this cabinet minister. Protests by victims of Ramak Khodro in front of the Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade: 'Ramak is stealing, the government is supporting it.' The Minister of Industry, Mine, and Trade was dismissed by the Assembly; Raisi had defended him. The former head of a military university became the proposed Minister of Industry, Mine, and Trade. The opening of the first 'Russian Bank' representative office in Iran; users: they have brought a sanctioned and loss-making bank. A new challenge in the 'SUVs' case; a member of parliament: announce the results of the investigations before the 'Board of Directors elections.' Exclusive to VOA: the footprint of 'Imam Sadeqi's' in the 'SUVs' case. The impeachment of Fatemi Amin and the acknowledgment of the existence of a 'car mafia' in Iran; the Minister of Industry, Mine, and Trade was dismissed.