Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DUBAI53
2006-01-03 13:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Dubai
Cable title:
IRAN'S OIL MINISTRY FROM THE INSIDE
how-toVZCZCXRO1411 PP RUEHBC RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHDE #0053 0031351 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 031351Z JAN 06 FM AMCONSUL DUBAI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7625 INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE RUEHZM/GCC C COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 0507
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBAI 000053
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 1/3/2016
TAGS: IR PGOV PINR ECON EPET
SUBJECT: IRAN'S OIL MINISTRY FROM THE INSIDE
CLASSIFIED BY: Jason L. Davis, Consul General, Dubai, UAE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBAI 000053
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 1/3/2016
TAGS: IR PGOV PINR ECON EPET
SUBJECT: IRAN'S OIL MINISTRY FROM THE INSIDE
CLASSIFIED BY: Jason L. Davis, Consul General, Dubai, UAE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary: According to several contacts, employees of
Iran's Oil Ministry and the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC)
are relatively satisfied with the selection of the new Oil
Minister. At the same time, they were confused by President
Ahmadinejad's promises to root out what he termed as the "oil
mafia". End Summary.
2. (C) Eliyas Harounian, an engineer who has worked for Iran's
Oil Ministry and National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) for more
than 30 years, met with Conoff on December 21 and discussed
Iran's oil industry. The discussion with Harounian, who is
Jewish, of the current situation of Jews in Iran is reported
septel.
Happy About New Oil Minister, But Problems May Lie Ahead
-------------- --------------
3. (C) Harounian indicated that most of his colleagues at NIOC
and in Iran's Oil Ministry are happy that the Majlis finally
approved President Ahmadinejad's fourth candidate for Oil
Minister, Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh. They see Hamaneh as the most
experience of the four candidates, given his long experience in
the Oil Ministry. Two other NIOC employees voiced similar
opinions to Conoff during their visa interviews on December 28.
4. (C) Oil Ministry employees' morale boost may be short-lived,
however. Harounian revealed that the new minister has
apparently made up a list of 400 first and second level managers
he wants to replace at the Ministry. Given restrictions on
firing Iranian government employees, Harounian believes it is
possible these managers will be demoted, vice fired.
Nonetheless, demotions would adversely affect their pensions as
the salary government employees make when they retire determines
their pensions.
No Knowledge of "Oil Mafia"
--------------
5. (C) Harounian also indicated that he and his colleagues at
NIOC in Esfahan do not know what Ahmadinejad is talking about
when the President makes repeated calls to oust the "oil mafia"
in NIOC and the Oil Ministry. He acknowledged, however, that
because the Oil Ministry and NIOC have offices spread throughout
the country, it is possible his office in Esfahan is simply not
privy to such insider information.
ALLEN
DAVIS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 1/3/2016
TAGS: IR PGOV PINR ECON EPET
SUBJECT: IRAN'S OIL MINISTRY FROM THE INSIDE
CLASSIFIED BY: Jason L. Davis, Consul General, Dubai, UAE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary: According to several contacts, employees of
Iran's Oil Ministry and the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC)
are relatively satisfied with the selection of the new Oil
Minister. At the same time, they were confused by President
Ahmadinejad's promises to root out what he termed as the "oil
mafia". End Summary.
2. (C) Eliyas Harounian, an engineer who has worked for Iran's
Oil Ministry and National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) for more
than 30 years, met with Conoff on December 21 and discussed
Iran's oil industry. The discussion with Harounian, who is
Jewish, of the current situation of Jews in Iran is reported
septel.
Happy About New Oil Minister, But Problems May Lie Ahead
-------------- --------------
3. (C) Harounian indicated that most of his colleagues at NIOC
and in Iran's Oil Ministry are happy that the Majlis finally
approved President Ahmadinejad's fourth candidate for Oil
Minister, Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh. They see Hamaneh as the most
experience of the four candidates, given his long experience in
the Oil Ministry. Two other NIOC employees voiced similar
opinions to Conoff during their visa interviews on December 28.
4. (C) Oil Ministry employees' morale boost may be short-lived,
however. Harounian revealed that the new minister has
apparently made up a list of 400 first and second level managers
he wants to replace at the Ministry. Given restrictions on
firing Iranian government employees, Harounian believes it is
possible these managers will be demoted, vice fired.
Nonetheless, demotions would adversely affect their pensions as
the salary government employees make when they retire determines
their pensions.
No Knowledge of "Oil Mafia"
--------------
5. (C) Harounian also indicated that he and his colleagues at
NIOC in Esfahan do not know what Ahmadinejad is talking about
when the President makes repeated calls to oust the "oil mafia"
in NIOC and the Oil Ministry. He acknowledged, however, that
because the Oil Ministry and NIOC have offices spread throughout
the country, it is possible his office in Esfahan is simply not
privy to such insider information.
ALLEN
DAVIS