Iranian Vice-president cancels press conference on corruption charges

Mohammadreza Rahimi

Divisions in Islamic Republic government deepened as the Vice-president, Mohammadreza Rahimi cancelled a press conference during which he was supposed to challenge the recent statement by the judiciary announcing possible links between Rahimi and a corruption ring.

Two days ago, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, Prosecutor General of Iran told reporters that the Vice-president may be summoned for questioning in connection with financial corruption since he has been linked to the investigation by other people under investigation.

A number of Iranian lawmakers have accused the Vice-president of heading a corruption network.

Rahimi rejected the statements of the judiciary and implied that the accusations are politically motivated.

He maintained that while he planned to challenge the accusations against him in a press conference, he has now decided to cancel the conference in view of the crucial time facing the administration with the recent launch of the “restructuring government subsidies.”

Ahmadinejad administration has finally launched its plan to phase out government subsidies on energy and food staples which has translated into quadrupling of gasoline prices and similar rises in the price of water, electricity, natural gas and food staples such as bread.

Rahimi insisted that their administration has been very firm in confronting all forms of corruption and maintained that he reserves the right for himself to respond to these accusations at a later time.