Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

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Iranian Oil Minister, Bijan Namdar Zanganeh defends his nomination for the cabinet of President Hassan Rowhani during a parliament session in Tehran on August 15, 2013 (AFP PHOTO/BEHROUZ MEHRI)

Iran to create new oil export organization

by Ali M. Pedram | Aug 22, 2013 | Middle East

London, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iran’s oil minister, Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, has been tasked with creating a new organization to boost sales of Iranian oil and counter Western sanctions on Iranian oil exports, according to reports in the Iranian media. Zanganeh approved...

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A handout picture released by the Iranian president’s official website shows Iranian president Hassan Rouhani (L) handing over the decree to newly appointed foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (R) during the handing over ceremony at the Foreign Ministry in Tehran on August 17, 2013. (AFP PHOTO/HO/PRESIDENT.IR)

Iran’s new ministers take office

by Ali M. Pedram | Aug 18, 2013 | Middle East

London, Asharq Al-Awsat—The 15 ministers who passed the votes of confidence in the Iranian Parliament on Thursday evening officially assumed their posts on Saturday morning in Tehran. President Hassan Rouhani chose to accompany foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to...

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Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani, center, gestures as lawmakers count the votes of their colleagues for President Hassan Rouhani’s proposed Cabinet at the parliament in Tehran, Iran, on Thursday, August 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Iran: Three Rouhani cabinet nominees disqualified in confidence vote

by Ali M. Pedram | Aug 17, 2013 | Middle East

London, Asharq Al-Awsat—After 4 days of tense debates the Iranian parliament, MPs held confidence votes on the 18 people nominated to ministerial positions by now Iranian president Hassan Rouhani. Three of the nominees were not confirmed: Mohammad-Ali Najafi, who was...

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Mostafa Pourmohammadi, center, nominee for Iran’s justice minister, listens to an unidentified lawmaker as he attends a session of parliament to debate on President Hasan Rouhani’s proposed Cabinet in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Iran: Heated debate in parliament over proposed ministers

by Ali M. Pedram | Aug 15, 2013 | Middle East

London, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Iranian parliament has extended to three days the public hearing sessions for the proposed ministers who, if approved, will integrate Hassan Rouhani’s new government. This extension allows advocates and opponents of the proposed ministers...

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Iranian President Hasan Rouhani speaks in his first press conference since taking office, at the presidency compound in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2013 (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Controversy surrounding new intelligence minister of Iran

by Ali M. Pedram | Aug 8, 2013 | Middle East

London, Asharq Al-Awsat—Pressure is growing on President Rouhani’s candidate for the post of intelligence minister to justify controversial remarks he made in an interview prior to his nomination. The candidate, Seyed Mahmoud Alavi, a member of the Council of...