Government Spokesman: A Think Tank Has Been Formed Against the Government

In response to reports published in recent weeks against the Rouhani administration, including the issue of "multi-hundred million salaries" of several managers, the government spokesman announced the existence of a "think tank" formed with "political motivations" against the government, which "determines what should happen every Saturday." According to ILNA, Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, the government spokesman, stated on Tuesday, June 25, in response to a question about the connection between Hossein Fereydoun, the President's brother, and the CEO of Bank Refah, whose salary slip became controversial, that "as soon as someone is not seen for a day or two, accusations arise." He added, "We should expect these reports until the 96 elections, which can have political objectives. We continue our efforts with motivation, but we have to respond to baseless issues every day." The spokesman also emphasized that the government "does not tolerate unconventional payments." He noted, "Public opinion is alert regarding the missing oil rig and Babak Zanjani. If think tanks are formed with political motivations, they determine what should happen throughout the week every Saturday, but we are also working for the welfare of the people." Mr. Nobakht had previously predicted that similar reports regarding "multi-hundred million salaries" might emerge dozens of times before the next presidential election. He apologized for this incident, deeming the actions of those government managers who received tens of millions in bonuses through "legal loopholes" as "an injustice to the government." In recent weeks, the transfer of 234 million tomans to the account of Ali Sedghi, the CEO of Bank Refah, in the last month of the previous year, as well as the publication of "multi-hundred million" salary slips from other managers of Iranian banks, has caused a stir. Allahverdi Habibpour, the public relations manager of Bank Refah, announced that the 234 million tomans transferred to the CEO's account was not just his salary for the last month but included all his salary arrears from 94 as well. The President and the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament separately issued orders to address this issue. Previously, the salaries and benefits of several managers at the Central Insurance of Iran had also caused controversy and led to the resignation of the head of that insurance. Meanwhile, some conservative websites have referred to Hossein Fereydoun, the brother of Hassan Rouhani, as a "partner" of the CEO of Bank Refah. In recent months, conservative media had reported that Hossein Fereydoun had been arrested, but government officials denied these reports. Last year, conservative representatives in the ninth parliament repeatedly raised accusations against Hassan Rouhani's brother. For instance, Elyas Naderan, Hossein Najabat, Alireza Zakani, and Ahmad Amirabadi, four representatives of the ninth parliament, accused Sirous Naseri and Hossein Fereydoun in a letter to the President of being involved in "brokerage, especially in the currency sector in previous years" and also in "brokerage" in foreign contracts after the Vienna nuclear agreement. Meanwhile, on Saturday, June 22, the Nasim Online website reported that following a letter from four Iranian parliament representatives, an arrest warrant for Sirous Naseri had been issued, but he is currently outside Iran and has not returned. The next day, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the spokesman for the judiciary, denied reports about the "issuance of arrest warrants" for Sirous Naseri and Hossein Mousavian, two members of the nuclear negotiating team during Mohammad Khatami's presidency, while also stating that "issues are raised, and they may be questioned one day." Sirous Naseri was a member of Iran's nuclear negotiating team during Khatami's presidency and is referred to as the chairman of the board of the oil company "Kish Oriental." Hossein Mousavian, who was a critic of the nuclear negotiating team during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidency, was arrested on April 29, 2007, on charges such as "espionage" and was released eight days later on a bail of 200 million tomans. He was ultimately acquitted of espionage charges but was sentenced to two years of suspended imprisonment and five years of prohibition from holding public office for "disruption of national security." In recent years, Mr. Mousavian has worked as a researcher at Princeton University but announced his return to Iran after Hassan Rouhani came to power in 2013.