Razmhosseini elected as Iran’s trade and industry minister

Tehran

Iran’s parliament appointed Ali Reza Razmhosseini, as trade and industry minister. Razmhosseini was nominated by President Hassan Rouhani to the post and the posting comes at a time when Iran is facing an unprecedented economic downturn and intense pressure from the United States as well.

President Donald Trump had reimposed sanctions on the country while it is facing the worst economic downfall and its currency dropped to its lowest value ever seen against the US dollar.

Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the 290-seat chamber voted 175-80 in favor of Razmhosseini. There were 264 lawmakers at the session and nine abstained.

In May, Rouhani dismissed the former trade and industry minister, Reza Rahmani, after car prices skyrocketed by more than 60% in a few weeks.