Rouhani: For the Tenth Time, I Ask – What Happened to the $2.7 Billion Profit?
Iran’s president, despite widespread protests and criticisms directed at him, reiterated his anti-corruption message once again during a cabinet session. He said he cannot overlook the rights of the people.
On Sunday, November 10, Hassan Rouhani, Iran’s president, made remarks about fighting corruption in a gathering in Yazd, comments that continue to have consequences for him. Ahmad Jannati, Ahmad Alamolhoda, and Kayhan newspaper were among those who protested Rouhani’s statements.
However, Rouhani has not backed down. On Wednesday, November 13, during a cabinet session, he reiterated his anti-corruption message and said: “The president cannot overlook this, and the discussion of this $2.7 billion is something I am repeating for the tenth time and have continuously mentioned over the past several years. The people have the right to know what happened to this $2.7 billion profit and who was behind the scenes.”
Rouhani’s reference is to Babak Zanjani, who was arrested on charges of debt to the Ministry of Oil and received a death sentence. However, his lawyer announced last winter that part of this debt has been paid, and if the entire debt is settled, he would likely be released.
Hassan Rouhani continued his remarks in the cabinet session: “One person took $260 million worth of oil from us without paying, and another took between $420-430 million worth of oil without paying. Let’s settle accounts – what did you do with this approximately $700 million of our oil that you took?”
Rouhani also emphasized that he is not making “judgments” but only stating that the government is owed this amount of money. He continued: “What happened to our $2 billion? Let them investigate. God willing, we hope no one is convicted, but it is very important to us that the people’s money returns to the treasury.”
Iran’s president clarified that the issue of investigating corruption should not turn into a conflict. Apparently, his reference is to the protests against him and the criticisms directed at the judiciary, which have been described as “sowing discord.”
He said: “We say let’s decisively act in this fight against corruption that we started from 2013, and thank God, some others have also come and are helping. We should not turn this anti-corruption struggle into a conflict; rather, turn it into unity.”
Rouhani explained that if investigating corruption is not limited to one faction and one ideology, and “all factions, groups, ideologies, and anyone who has committed corruption” come to the trial table, this will create unity.
Rouhani’s main objection to investigating corruption cases is that, in his view, these investigations are factional and only limited to those close to the government. One of the closest of these people to the government is Hossein Fereydoun, the president’s brother, who was sentenced to five years imprisonment, a fine, and return of property worth 31 billion tomans on charges of “bribery.”
Critics of Rouhani believe his objections are only due to the verdict issued against his brother.
In another part of his remarks during the cabinet session, Hassan Rouhani referred to protests regarding the poor economic conditions of the people and said: “Some people who are doing very well, who have pens and loudspeakers in their hands, are shouting from every corner of Tehran for themselves, saying the people’s conditions are bad. Yes, the people’s conditions are not good, but you didn’t hear these words. We know how much your salaries are, where your houses are, and we know your backgrounds. You should not speak this way.”
Since the economic situation has deteriorated, protests from the government’s opposition faction regarding this situation have increased. Government insiders believe these protests and criticisms are factional and aimed at weakening Rouhani.
Source: DW
