Iran's president proposes same Cabinet for his second term
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has proposed Cabinet members for his second term in office with almost no changes among incumbent high-profile portfolios, Iranian state TV reported on Tuesday.
According to the report, Rouhani submitted a list of 17 nominees to Parliament. Under the proposal, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh and Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi all are to retain their posts.
Acting defense minister, Gen. Amir Hatami, is expected to officially take over that portfolio. If so, Hatami will be the first defense minister selected from national army in nearly three decades.
Since 1989, Iranian defense ministers were either civilians or more recently, members of the powerful Revolutionary Guard, a separate force from Iran's military that answers only to the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran and the United States frequently have run-ins in the Persian Gulf, nearly all involving the Guard's navy.
The rest of the names on Rouhani's list are either current ministers or their deputies and officials. A nominee for science minister has not been announced yet. Parliament is to vote later next week on the Cabinet.
