Rouhani: I'm saying this for the tenth time, what happened to the $2.7 billion profit?
The Iranian President, regardless of the widespread protests and criticisms he has received, once again reiterated his words in the government meeting about fighting corruption. He said he cannot ignore the rights of the people.
On Sunday, November 10, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani delivered a speech to the people of Yazd about the fight against corruption that continues to have repercussions for him. Ahmad Jannati, Ahmad Alam-ul-Hoda, and Kayhan newspaper were among those who protested Rouhani's remarks.
Rouhani, however, has not backed down. On Wednesday, November 12, he repeated his remarks on the fight against corruption at a government meeting, saying: "The president cannot be complacent, and this is the tenth time I have repeated the issue of these two billion and 700 million dollars, and I have said it consistently over the past few years. The people have the right to know what these two billion and 700 million dollars were used for, and who were behind the scenes."
Rouhani is referring to Babak Zanjani, who was arrested and sentenced to death on charges of owing money to the Ministry of Oil. His lawyer announced last winter that part of the debt had been paid and that if the entire debt was paid, he would likely be released.
Hassan Rouhani continued his speech at the government meeting, saying: "One took $260 million and the other $420-430 million of our oil and did not pay it back. Let's give an account of what you did with the approximately $700 million you took from us?"
Rouhani also emphasized that he is not “judging” and is only declaring that the government owes this amount of money. He continued: “What happened to our two billion dollars of money? Let them come and investigate. God willing, we hope that no one will be convicted, but it is very important for us that the people’s money returns to the treasury.”
The Iranian president has made it clear that the issue of investigating corruption should not become a controversy. He is apparently referring to the protests that have been directed at him in this regard and the criticisms he has leveled at the judiciary, which have been interpreted as “dissension.”
He said: "We are saying, let's act decisively in this fight against corruption that we started in 2013, and thank God, some others have also come and are helping, and let's not turn this fight against corruption into division; rather, let's turn it into unity."
Rouhani explained that if addressing corruption is not limited to one faction and one ideology, and “all factions, groups, and ideologies, and every individual who has committed corruption, are brought to trial,” this will create unity.
Rouhani’s main objection to the handling of corruption cases is that he believes they are biased and limited to those close to the government. One of the closest people to the government is Hossein Fereydoun, the president’s brother, who was sentenced to five years in prison, a fine, and the forfeiture of 31 billion tomans on charges of “taking bribes.”
Rouhani's critics believe his protest is only due to the sentencing of his brother.
In another part of his speech at the government meeting, Hassan Rouhani referred to the protests against the poor living conditions of the people and said: "Some people who are very well off and have pens and loudspeakers in their hands are shouting for themselves in every corner of Tehran and saying that the people's situation is bad. Yes, the people's situation is not good, but these words have not reached you. We know how much your salary is, where your houses are, and we know your background. You don't want to talk like that."
Since the economic situation worsened, opposition to the government has become increasingly vocal. Government officials believe that these protests and criticisms are partisan and aimed at undermining Rouhani.
Source: DW
