Chamran Claims the Interior Ministry Spent Funds for Wagons Ordered from China 'Elsewhere'

Mehdi Chamran states that the funds intended for the government to pay China for the delivery of wagons ordered by the municipality have been 'spent elsewhere by the Ministry of Interior' and 'China will not deliver the wagons until the remaining payment is made.' The head of the Islamic Council of Tehran City mentioned that 9% of the advance payment for the wagons has been made, but 'unfortunately, the government has not paid the rest.' According to Chamran, 'oil has been sold and the money has been given to the Central Bank, but our good friends in the Ministry of Interior have spent this amount elsewhere.' When asked where the Ministry of Interior spent this money, he said: 'The Ministry of Interior has used that amount for a necessity; like paying for wheat, which was done from value-added tax and was later replaced after correspondence.' Last year, Abdol-Motahhar Mohammadi, the spokesperson for the Mayor of Tehran, stated regarding which of the signed agreements with the Chinese side had been converted into contracts: 'The contracts for 2,500 electric buses, 10,000 electric vans, and 27,500 electric taxis are definitive, and the payment times, delivery times, and even penalties for non-delivery or delays and the financial provider and guarantor are specified and binding for both parties.' At that time, Alireza Zakani, the Mayor of Tehran, claimed that the volume of agreements and contracts between Tehran and China is between 12 to 13 billion euros. In the context of the debates among the six candidates favored by the government to replace Ebrahim Raisi, Mostafa Pourmohammadi commented on the Tehran municipality's contract with China, saying: 'We sell oil cheaply, and instead of its money, Zakani goes to sign contracts.' The unstable position of Zakani in the Tehran municipality; Naeimeh Doostdar says Zakani's political life for the principlists has come to an end. Increased speculation about the collective resignation of ten members of the Tehran City Council; the possibility of 'dissolution' of the council if Zakani does not step down. The building of the Iranian Sociological Association has been sealed by the municipality under Zakani's management. A city council member announced the start of negotiations for Zakani's 'resignation.' Disclosure of 'buying and selling positions' in the Tehran municipality; Alireza Zakani is approaching 'impeachment.'