Rouhani Issues Order to Combat 'Unauthorized Docks'

Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, has instructed the country's Anti-Smuggling Headquarters to take necessary and coordinated actions against 'unauthorized entry points and docks' and to prevent the interference of 'irresponsible agencies' in imports to Iran. According to the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA), Rouhani issued this directive during the 102nd session of the 'Resistance Economy Coordination Headquarters' on Sunday, March 7. ISNA reported that the 'discriminatory approach and various exemptions and exceptions' created in customs law and trade regulations have led to an increase in informal trade and smuggling in recent years. In recent years, several Iranian executive officials have criticized organized smuggling in the country, discussing docks and entry points for goods that are beyond government control. For instance, members of the sixth parliament have repeatedly warned about 'unauthorized' docks. Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also controversially stated in July 2011 that some institutions and organizations import goods through illegal docks and borders, and action must be taken against them. Just one day after Ahmadinejad's criticism, Mohammad Ali Jafari, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, emphasized that his organization, like other military institutions, has military docks but does not conduct any commercial transactions there. In addition to goods smuggling, drug trafficking is also a significant issue in Iran. On February 21, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, Iran's Interior Minister, stated that part of the money related to drug trafficking 'enters the political sphere and is used in the form of election assistance and decision-making.' These remarks led to protests from the parliament's president and several representatives, with 30 lawmakers signing a letter requesting his summons to explain these statements. Following these protests, Rahmani Fazli announced on Thursday, March 5, that he did not mean to imply that 'the current elections are problematic,' but rather warned that 'those with dirty money want to create a safe margin for themselves.' About a week after the Interior Minister's comments, the political deputy of this ministry stated that drug sales generate significant income for some individuals, adding, 'This money can be spent everywhere, including in politics and the economy.' Mohammad Hossein Moqimi emphasized that 'the Interior Minister's recommendation was to prevent such actions so that this money is not spent in sensitive and decisive areas.' He also mentioned the possibility of this money being used in politics, stating, 'This money can be spent anywhere.' Concurrently with these statements from the political deputy of the Interior Minister, Qasem Jafari, a representative from Bojnourd in parliament, called on Rouhani to 'manage and control' his associates regarding the potential influx of dirty money into elections. He added, 'Turkan and those who raise the issue of dirty money are complicit if they do not provide evidence and documentation.' Akbar Turkan, a senior advisor to the President of Iran, stated on Saturday, March 8, that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had a 'planned movement' and that individuals in this movement want to participate in the political arenas of 2015 with dirty money.