29 Mar 2024
Monday 4 July 2016 - 10:55
Story Code : 221516

Larijani hails administration efforts against high pays



The head of the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) has praised the measures taken by the administration of President Hassan Rouhani regarding senior officials revealed to have been receiving unconventionally high salaries at top posts.

Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, who was speaking at a joint meeting of Iranian lawmakers andadministration officials, including President Rouhani, on Sunday said the measures taken over the issue of high payments areworthy of praise.

He emphasized that the individuals who have been receiving such pays should definitely be dealt with decisively.

Reports have been emerging recently about unusually high payments having been made to certain top executives at banks and other state organizations.

The first reports said executives at the state insurance regulator were earning more than 50 times the base government salary.

Following the reports, the administration of President Rouhani moved quickly to have the issue investigated.

His minister of economic affairs and finance, Ali Tayebnia, subsequently removed the heads of Bank Mellat, Bank Saderat, Refah Bank and Mehr Bank over the issue. The top bankers are accused of having received large bonuses, interest-free loans and, in some cases, tax evasion.



[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="555"] Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (3rd-R) is seen next to Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani (4th-R) and other members of the Iranian parliament and administration during a meeting on July 3, 2016. (Photo by IRNA)[/caption]

On June 22, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei emphasized that the issue must be dealt with promptly.

Last Saturday, all the board trustees of Irans National Development Fund resigned. Among those who stepped down was Safdar Hosseini, the managing director of the Fund, who is said to have received USD 18,700 a month in salaries and other payments.

President Rouhani has pledged to punish government employees receiving excessive salaries.

Elsewhere in his Sunday remarks, Speaker Larijani referred to a nuclear deal Iran has struck with six world powers and said the grounds must be prepared for foreign investment inside Iran following the agreement, which is dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

He said the Parliament and the administration should cooperate to pave the way for such investment.

He also talked about certain difficulties in the lifting of the sanctions against Iran as per the JCPOA and said while the issue is being followed up on by officials, especially Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, maybe more effective measures are needed in order for the sanctions to be lifted.

The JCPOA was reached in July 2015 and started being implemented by all sides six months later. Under the deal, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program and provide enhanced access to international atomic monitors in return for the termination of all nuclear-related sanctions imposed by the United States, the United Nations and the European Union (EU) against the country.

Larijani said that, following the JCPOA, certain countries in the region are plotting against Iran to limit its regional clout, cause trouble for it, and clip its wings.

Therefore, he said, it is highly crucial that more measures are carried out in the diplomatic domain, and relations with neighbors are boosted.

By Press TV

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