Dozens of MPs Request Judicial Investigation into 'Violations' in Privatization

Dozens of Iranian MPs have sent a letter to the head of the judiciary requesting the establishment of a special branch to investigate 'violations' in the transfer of state industries to the private sector. These 55 representatives reported that during the management of Abdollah Pouri Hosseini at the Privatization Organization, 'significant violations' occurred in the transfer of state companies, and cases have been filed against him in the judiciary. The letter mentions the transfer of companies such as Aluminim Almahdi, Hormozal Project, Tabriz Machine Manufacturing, Tabriz Foundry, Iran Air Tours, Arak Aluminum, Moghan Agricultural and Industrial Company, Kermanshah Petrochemical, and Haft Tappeh Sugarcane as some of the 'ambiguous transfers.' The representatives stated that a case has been filed in the judiciary regarding the transfer of Aluminim Almahdi and the Hormozal Project, a matter previously reported by Ahmad Tavakoli, a former MP. Meanwhile, Bahram Parsai, a member of the Board of Directors of the 90th Commission of the Parliament, reported a '1 trillion tomans violation' in the transfer of Aluminim Almahdi and the Hormozal Project, stating that this has resulted in 50 to 60 percent of the country's aluminum market being controlled by one family. According to Mr. Parsai, despite written confirmation of violations in this transfer, the Privatization Organization held the auction only with the presence of 'Ferroalloy Geno Company.' However, Jafar Sabahi, an advisor to the head of the Privatization Organization, stated that the judiciary has approved the transfer of this company to the private sector. In their letter, the MPs accused the Privatization Organization of transferring state factories for 'a pittance' and selecting buyers without the necessary qualifications. The letter also mentioned that some buyers of these factories 'have been detained due to multiple violations and committing crimes.' The representatives also stated: 'Reports from the General Inspection Organization and the Court of Accounts regarding some violations related to privatization have not led to clear results.' The letter also quoted the Minister of Economy stating that Mir Ali Ashraf Abdollah Pouri Hosseini, the head of the Privatization Organization, will be dismissed. Mr. Pouri Hosseini was a representative of Tabriz in the sixth parliament and was appointed as the head of the Privatization Organization after the end of this parliament and during the presidency of Mohammad Khatami. He was reappointed to this position during Hassan Rouhani's presidency. Most of the 55 representatives who signed this letter are principlists. In recent months, workers from several industrial units transferred to the private sector, including Haft Tappeh Sugarcane, National Industrial Steel Group, and Hepco Arak, have protested against unpaid wages and demanded the return of management of these units to the government. In response, Mr. Pouri Hosseini, the head of the Privatization Organization, criticized some individuals on June 12, stating that 'they have interests that are eliminated by the implementation of privatization,' which has led to 'resistances against government transfers.' Hassan Rouhani and his officials have previously emphasized the necessity of continuing privatization policies in Iran. Meanwhile, critics of Rouhani's economic policies point out that these 'neoliberal policies' have had negative results for Iran's economy. Eshaq Jahangiri, the First Vice President of Iran, emphasized last year that 'privatization is one of the definitive policies of the system' and called for 'identifying obstacles through damage assessment.' After the 1979 revolution in Iran, the properties of several factory owners and large industrialists were confiscated and transferred to the government and institutions such as the Foundation of the Oppressed. Since the presidency of Hashemi Rafsanjani, privatization policies have been pursued in Iran, and the Supreme Leader also issued the policies of Article 44 of the Constitution for privatization in 2005.