Iran oil minister to leave amid ministries merger, Arman reports

Bloomberg: Iran’s Oil Minister Masoud Mir-Kazemi and other officials will probably step down following planned mergers by a number of ministries, Arman reported.

Bloomberg

By Ladane Nasseri

Iran’s Oil Minister Masoud Mir-Kazemi and other officials will probably step down following planned mergers by a number of ministries, Arman reported.

Industry and Mines Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian and Welfare Minister Sadegh Mahsouli may also leave the cabinet, the Tehran- based newspaper said.

Iran said yesterday that the oil and energy ministries will be combined to cut the number of government departments to 17 from 21 and boost the administration’s efficiency. The Industries and Mines Ministry will be combined with the Commerce Ministry and the Welfare Ministry with the Labor Ministry.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s government will have to nominate the ministers for the merged ministries to the parliament and seek votes of confidence, Arman reported, citing senior parliamentary member Hossein Sobhaninia.