- Iranians holding Ashura mourning for Imam Hussein
- Third step: Iran officially informs EU of plan to expand nuclear R&D
- Iran expands nuclear R&D program: Rouhani
- Iran goes ahead in space tech, despite US sanctions: ISA
- Resistance Front undermining Israeli regime power: Top commander
- Iran: 7 crew members of detained UK ship freed
- US addiction to sanction threaten its power: Iran’s Zarif
- Dutch role in 2007 Stuxnet attack on Iran’s nuclear site under scrutiny: Iraian FM Spox.
- Iran: ‘Sustainable Security 2019’ kicks off in Caspian Sea
- Iran’s Zarif leaves Tehran for Moscow
- Shiraz University ranked 1st in liver transplantation: Iranian health official
- Japan’s Abe to meet Iran’s president to discuss easing tension in region
- Downing of US spy drone shattered war threats against Iran: Top IRGC commander
- IAEO head reports development of first ion-therapy hospital in west of Asia
- Iranian Taekwondo team wins 2019 World Cup championship
- US sanctions failed to force Iran to buckle: Report
- Crew fixing Iran oil tanker broken down in Red Sea
- As Iranians hold nerves, US seeks to scare off trade
- Leader expresses concern about Kashmir, urges India to follow fair policy toward Muslim-majority region
- Iran saffron exports down due to smuggling, government restrictions: Exporter
- Iran FM warns US against ‘serious miscalculation’ in Persian Gulf
- Iran’s resistance policy led to release of oil tanker: MP
- Iran in reverse brain drain as top students come home in rising numbers
- Iran official calls for compensation for tanker seizure
- Iran hails N Korea for standing against ‘unilateral’ US demands
- Shia Muslims celebrate Eid Al-Ghadir
- North Korea praises Iran’s anti-US struggle
- Zarif says to meet French president Friday
- Iranian court hearing case of UK oil tanker
- Over half of Japanese voters oppose joining US-led anti-Iran coalition in Persian Gulf: Poll
- IME trade ups by 21 percent in July
- Finland backs INSTEX in defiance of US
- US anti-Iran policy in high seas harms Europeans: LA Times
- Iran, China confer on Syria
- Iran, Finland share views on Persian Gulf dialogue forum: Zarif
- Iran warns US against seizure of oil tanker
- Iraq eager to benefit from Iranian Police’s experience
- Iran planning 3rd step to reduce nuclear commitments: Spokesman
- Leader grants clemency to over 1,000 Iranian inmates
- Registration for Arbaeen Pilgrimage to begin in Iran on Friday
- Iran, Iraq agree to reopen Khosravi border crossing
- Iran deplores suicide attack at Kabul wedding hall
- Iran to hold int'l hand-woven carpets expo
- Zarif meets with Iran-Kuwait Friendship Group members
- Adrian Darya oil tanker not under any sanctions, says Iran envoy
- ‘Iran to stay in nuclear deal as long as its interests are met’
- India envoy happy with positive trend of trade with Iran
- Iran’s annual export of white meat tops 2.5m tons: Minister
- Iranian scientist discovers new state of matter
- Iran, Japan diplomats discuss bilateral ties
- Iran, Ansarullah, European representatives Yemen developments
- ‘Iran to become self-sufficient in producing aircraft engines'
- US issues seizure warrant for Iranian supertanker 'Grace 1'
- Neanderthal tooth unearthed near Iran’s Zagros mountain
- Iran’s Zarif due in Kuwait on Saturday
- US faces humiliating defeat after Gibraltar releases Iranian tanker: Envoy
- Spokesman rejects claim on Iran’s commitment in exchange for tanker release
- Zarif reacts to release of Iranian tanker in Gibraltar
- Israel, UAE engaged in secret talks on Iran arranged by US: Report
- US threatens visa ban as Iranian-operated tanker sets to sail from Gibraltar
- Enemies must factor Iran's global power in their calculations: IRGC's chief commander
- Trump’s administration conflicting messages to Iran baffle go-betweens: Report
- Gibraltar releases Iran-operated tanker despite US pressure
Tehran, YJC. Rezaei has said that he will interact with the Supreme Leader to drive the IRGC out of the economic system.
Speaking in an interview with Sharq, Mohsen Rezaei said "The presence of the IRGC or the government in economy is justified only under utterly extraordinary situations. That situation is when the private sector, entrepreneurs, or cooperatives cannot enter a special activity. When the war was over, contracts were nearly dead in Iran and the private sector had moved out. Parts were nationalized after the revolution and private sector owners who related to the Shah’s regime had moved abroad. In those situations it was necessary that the IRGC, ministries, and governmental organizations enter the economic sphere, but there was no need thereafter. 2005 was the final term for the presence of the government or military forces in economy when Article 44 was passed.”
Posed
with the question how he would rid economy of the IRGC while the organization
is not subject to the government, Rezaei, himself a former IRGC commander, said
"We have no problem there, because the Supreme Leader himself agrees with us. He
himself has arranged the Article 44 policies, so there will be no problem
there. Also, the President is the Head of the Supreme Council for National
Security, where all commanders, the Ministry of Defense, and the General Staff
of Armed Forces are members, so he can do this from that position. Also, due to
good relations I have with the Supreme Leader I have no problems there.”
He believed that the IRGC has remained active in the country’s economy
only because administrations have decided so, saying "It’s been the government
itself demanding that the IRGC stay active in economy, so much so that projects
were given over to the IRGC in Asaluyeh and even the Oil Minister Mr. Qasemi
was made minister because the government insisted upon it. Ahmadinejad demanded
the Supreme Leader at least three times that the Oil Ministry may go to him. There
would have been no problem if he didn’t want it so.”
"We will turn the economy totally public. There will be no bias, ministries and military forces must all leave economy,” Rezaei asserted.
He also pointed to the state of political freedom if he is to be President and said "I will try to plant the seed of freedom in the country. But I need to make a set of rules and regulations, then institutionalize them through education and clarify the position of each organization.”
Rezaei pointed out that what the Reform administration did regarding freedom was not strong enough, adding further "I will plant the seed of freedom in the country, inshallah. I will try to make sure that all would be able know and enjoy their rights with freedom. It is one of my mottos to give people their rights, from managing the country to managing their own lives, from the intellectual to media, workers, peasants, and women. Currently even the Leader’s rights are not upheld.”
Your Comment