Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RPODUBAI341
2009-08-19 14:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Iran RPO Dubai
Cable title:
IRAN: AHMADINEJAD NAMES ADDITIONAL CABINET MEMBERS
how-toVZCZCXRO6263 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHTRO DE RUEHDIR #0341/01 2311437 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O P 191437Z AUG 09 FM RPO DUBAI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0497 INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI 0392 RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE RUEHDIR/RPO DUBAI 0498
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RPO DUBAI 000341
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/19/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV IR
SUBJECT: IRAN: AHMADINEJAD NAMES ADDITIONAL CABINET MEMBERS
REF: RPO DUBAI 335
DUBAI 00000341 001.2 OF 002
CLASSIFIED BY: Alan Eyre, Director, Iran Regional Presence
Office, DOS.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RPO DUBAI 000341
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/19/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV IR
SUBJECT: IRAN: AHMADINEJAD NAMES ADDITIONAL CABINET MEMBERS
REF: RPO DUBAI 335
DUBAI 00000341 001.2 OF 002
CLASSIFIED BY: Alan Eyre, Director, Iran Regional Presence
Office, DOS.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary: Ahmadinejad delivered the names of 18 of his 21
proposed cabinet ministers to the Majlis today. The remaining
three-for the ministries of defense, commerce, and justice-had
not yet been finalized, although legally today is the deadline
for such a submission. Of note, the incumbent Foreign Affairs
Minister, Manuchehr Mottaki, was nominated to retain his post,
Ahmadinejad nominated a third female to the cabinet, and the
Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar has been nominated for
the Interior Ministry. It is expected that many of Ahmadinejad's
picks will undergo a thorough if not brutal examination by the
Majlis if for no other reason than the fact that, in contrast to
previous administrations, the President made no effort to
consult with the Majlis on his selections. The background for
selected Ministerial nominees follows.
2. (U) Foreign Affairs: Manuchehr Mottaki. Mottaki has served
in this position since 2005. There was speculation that
Ahmadinejad would replace Mottaki with his ally, current head of
the Supreme Council for National Security Saeed Jalili. Mottaki
has been criticized during his tenure for being weak and
ineffective. He is a career diplomat.
3. (U) Interior: Mostafa Mohammad Najjar. Najjar has served as
the Minister of Defense since 2005. He has served in the IRGC
in a variety of positions since 1979.
4. (C) Intelligence: Hojjatoleslam Heydar Moslehi. Ahmadinejad
announced this appointment on Sunday. (NOTE: One IRPO contact, a
former high ranking IRGC officer who knew Moslehi when the
latter worked as the Supreme Leader's representative to the IRGC
ground forces was surprised at Moslehi's appointment, saying
that Moslehi did not have much of an intelligence background.
He characterized Moslehi as `soft spoken' and `rational', at
least in relation to many of the IRGC intelligence officers who
play an increasing role in the government.)
5. (U) Islamic Culture and Guidance: Seyyed Mohammad Hoseyni.
Hoseyni is a professor of theology at Tehran University,
executive deputy at IRIB, and served in the Majlis from
1996-2000.
6. (U) Economic Affairs and Finance: Shamseddin Hoseyni. Hoseyni
is the incumbent at the ministry, serving there since 2008. He
received 218 votes last year, suggesting his re-confirmation is
likely. He is a critic of Iran's subsidy system and will
presumably work with Ahmadinejad for its reform.
7. (U) Oil: Seyyed Masud Mirkazemi. Mirkazemi was the Commerce
Minister during Ahmadinejad's first term. High inflation
prompted some calls for his impeachment in May 2008, though he
remained in office. A biography published on Ahmadinejad's
website in 2007 shows little background in the oil industry;
prior to becoming Commerce Minister, he served in various
positions in the Defense Ministry. He has a Phd in industrial
engineering.
8. (U) Energy: Mohammad Ali-Abadi. Ali-Abadi served as the Vice
President for Physical Education during Ahmadinejad's first term
and also headed Iran's Olympic Committee. He came under
criticism for politicizing Iranian sports. He was a deputy at
the Tehran Municipality during Ahmadinejad's time as mayor. He
has a Master's degree in architecture.
9. (U) Education: Susan Keshavarz. Keshavarz is the third female
Ahmadinejad has nominated to his cabinet. Keshavarz joined the
Education Ministry in 2008 as a deputy, heading the Special
Education Organization. She was previously a professor of
philosophy. A Majles deputy criticized her prospective
nomination because she lacks executive experience.
DUBAI 00000341 002.2 OF 002
10. (C) Comment: The cabinet nominees include incumbents, those
having served elsewhere in Ahmadinejad's first term, and new
faces. As expected, some of Ahmadinejad's selections seem to
lack experience in their designated posts. Prior to the cabinet
announcement there had been extensive grumblings among Majlis
deputies (and other political elites) that Ahmadinejad had
failed to consult them on his selections, setting up a
contentious battle for some of his nominations. IRPO will
follow-up with a more comprehensive assessment of the nominees.
EYRE
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/19/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV IR
SUBJECT: IRAN: AHMADINEJAD NAMES ADDITIONAL CABINET MEMBERS
REF: RPO DUBAI 335
DUBAI 00000341 001.2 OF 002
CLASSIFIED BY: Alan Eyre, Director, Iran Regional Presence
Office, DOS.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary: Ahmadinejad delivered the names of 18 of his 21
proposed cabinet ministers to the Majlis today. The remaining
three-for the ministries of defense, commerce, and justice-had
not yet been finalized, although legally today is the deadline
for such a submission. Of note, the incumbent Foreign Affairs
Minister, Manuchehr Mottaki, was nominated to retain his post,
Ahmadinejad nominated a third female to the cabinet, and the
Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar has been nominated for
the Interior Ministry. It is expected that many of Ahmadinejad's
picks will undergo a thorough if not brutal examination by the
Majlis if for no other reason than the fact that, in contrast to
previous administrations, the President made no effort to
consult with the Majlis on his selections. The background for
selected Ministerial nominees follows.
2. (U) Foreign Affairs: Manuchehr Mottaki. Mottaki has served
in this position since 2005. There was speculation that
Ahmadinejad would replace Mottaki with his ally, current head of
the Supreme Council for National Security Saeed Jalili. Mottaki
has been criticized during his tenure for being weak and
ineffective. He is a career diplomat.
3. (U) Interior: Mostafa Mohammad Najjar. Najjar has served as
the Minister of Defense since 2005. He has served in the IRGC
in a variety of positions since 1979.
4. (C) Intelligence: Hojjatoleslam Heydar Moslehi. Ahmadinejad
announced this appointment on Sunday. (NOTE: One IRPO contact, a
former high ranking IRGC officer who knew Moslehi when the
latter worked as the Supreme Leader's representative to the IRGC
ground forces was surprised at Moslehi's appointment, saying
that Moslehi did not have much of an intelligence background.
He characterized Moslehi as `soft spoken' and `rational', at
least in relation to many of the IRGC intelligence officers who
play an increasing role in the government.)
5. (U) Islamic Culture and Guidance: Seyyed Mohammad Hoseyni.
Hoseyni is a professor of theology at Tehran University,
executive deputy at IRIB, and served in the Majlis from
1996-2000.
6. (U) Economic Affairs and Finance: Shamseddin Hoseyni. Hoseyni
is the incumbent at the ministry, serving there since 2008. He
received 218 votes last year, suggesting his re-confirmation is
likely. He is a critic of Iran's subsidy system and will
presumably work with Ahmadinejad for its reform.
7. (U) Oil: Seyyed Masud Mirkazemi. Mirkazemi was the Commerce
Minister during Ahmadinejad's first term. High inflation
prompted some calls for his impeachment in May 2008, though he
remained in office. A biography published on Ahmadinejad's
website in 2007 shows little background in the oil industry;
prior to becoming Commerce Minister, he served in various
positions in the Defense Ministry. He has a Phd in industrial
engineering.
8. (U) Energy: Mohammad Ali-Abadi. Ali-Abadi served as the Vice
President for Physical Education during Ahmadinejad's first term
and also headed Iran's Olympic Committee. He came under
criticism for politicizing Iranian sports. He was a deputy at
the Tehran Municipality during Ahmadinejad's time as mayor. He
has a Master's degree in architecture.
9. (U) Education: Susan Keshavarz. Keshavarz is the third female
Ahmadinejad has nominated to his cabinet. Keshavarz joined the
Education Ministry in 2008 as a deputy, heading the Special
Education Organization. She was previously a professor of
philosophy. A Majles deputy criticized her prospective
nomination because she lacks executive experience.
DUBAI 00000341 002.2 OF 002
10. (C) Comment: The cabinet nominees include incumbents, those
having served elsewhere in Ahmadinejad's first term, and new
faces. As expected, some of Ahmadinejad's selections seem to
lack experience in their designated posts. Prior to the cabinet
announcement there had been extensive grumblings among Majlis
deputies (and other political elites) that Ahmadinejad had
failed to consult them on his selections, setting up a
contentious battle for some of his nominations. IRPO will
follow-up with a more comprehensive assessment of the nominees.
EYRE