“I refuse to answer”, was the reply Bijan Namdar-Zangeneh gave as he was questioned by reporters after a cabinet meeting regarding four affiliate oil ministry accounts currently holding $54 billion cash.
Fars News Agency, which is controlled by the office of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said Namdar-Zangeneh gave his blunt response as reporters asked him to explain why the money had not been handed over to the treasury as required by law.
“Does the constitution not state that any revenue earned must be transferred to the treasury”, the oil minister was asked.
He simply replied, “Why are you shouting so much. I do not want to answer this question. You can write that I refuse to answer”.
He went on to say that altogether oil contracts result in more than $80 billion being transferred throughout the country.
The four affiliate companies that are currently holding money for the Oil Ministry are the National Iranian Oil Company, National Petrochemical Industries Company, National Iranian Gas Company, and National Oil Products Refinery and Distribution Company.
