The Footprint of Spies in the Chamber of Commerce Elections

The Footprint of Spying in the Chamber of Commerce Elections

The footprint of spying in the Chamber of Commerce elections, according to Iran Gate’s report, continues to unfold despite more than a month passing since the announcement of the election results. Recently, it has entered a new phase with the publication of statements and documents in the media indicating government interference in the election process, leading to violations by some participants.

The differences between the private sector and the government are not a hidden or covert issue. Considering the adoption of policies conflicting with the natural market economy, it is natural for the Chamber of Commerce, which is a reflection of Iran’s private sector, to face challenges with the government.

Now, these differences have entered a new phase, and it seems that the government intended to undermine the independence and integrity of this institution by intervening in the internal elections of the Chamber of Commerce. Rumors and statements by some indicate government interference in these elections through forgery of documents by some candidates. On the other hand, it is said that Mohammad Mokhbar, the First Deputy of the 13th President, is the mastermind behind these covert interventions.

Addressing the problems between the Chamber and the government

The statements and presence of some famous and controversial figures from the Chamber of Commerce on social media and sometimes in domestic media, due to their critical approach towards the government’s performance, have always caused dissatisfaction among the thirteenth cabinet. This dissatisfaction has arisen while Ibrahim Raisi visited the Chamber of Commerce before the 1400 elections and before starting his election campaigns, meeting with representatives of the private sector in the country. This meeting, which sparked many controversies, provoked many criticisms from Raisi’s supporters regarding his statements.

But as expected, with the emergence of Ibrahim Raisi, the approach of the thirteenth cabinet was such that it led to criticism from prominent members of the Chamber of Commerce. However, considering Raisi’s unintentional copying of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s cabinet, it was predicted that he would adopt a different approach from his promises to the members of the Chamber of Commerce.

In any case, it was after the appointment of the members of the thirteenth cabinet that this difference escalated, and prominent figures in the private sector strongly criticized the government’s performance. This trend has continued to this day, and it can even be said that the Chamber’s criticisms have become more severe and concise.

The controversial old man enters.

Most critics of the government accuse the Chamber of Commerce, Mohammad Mokhber, of interfering in the elections by manipulating the documents of candidates who had previously received votes. These individuals believe that the government has tried to create a platform for obedient individuals, like Yahya Al-Isa, who is now in his eighth decade of life, to participate.

This happened despite the fact that the disqualified and eliminated candidates had already been qualified and had received a significant number of votes, and had been trusted by relevant institutions. However, it seems that hidden hands have manipulated the documents of certain individuals to remove them from the private sector parliamentary elections.

These interventionist actions by forces supported by First Deputy Ibrahim Raisi have caused candidates like Al-Isa, who were originally selected as alternate members, to now enter the main lineup.

Who is Yahya Al-Isa?

Yahya Al-Isaac is known as the most prominent defender of President Ebrahim Raisi’s government among private sector activists. This member of the Islamic Coalition Party, who also has a record of chairing the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, served as the Minister of Commerce in the second government of Hashemi Rafsanjani. Al-Isaac, 74 years old, is currently the head of the Iran-Iraq Joint Chamber of Commerce and plays a controversial role in the relations between the thirteenth government and the private sector in Iraq.

The spy relationship with Al-Isaac

However, many critics of Raisi’s government performance refer to Al-Isaac as the main pawn of the government in interfering in the internal affairs of the Chamber of Commerce. This speculation gained strength when Mohammad Mokhber, based on Al-Isaac’s statements about the blocked funds of Iran in Iraq, announced the release of the Islamic Republic’s assets in this country. This news was quickly denied by Iraqi sources and the government. In fact, what Al-Isaac and Mokhber referred to as the release of blocked resources was the transfer of these funds from one bank to another in Iraq.

However, the root of the relationship between these two goes back to the time when Al-Isaac was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for the Needy. It is no secret that Mohammad Mokhber also has a close relationship with this foundation. His presence in the Barakat Foundation was also in line with his close connection to this institution, which has also led to many criticisms. It is said that the collaboration between Mokhber and Al-Isaac dates back to that same period and now serves as a platform for their collaboration in intervening and manipulating the results of the Chamber of Commerce elections.

The annulment of the Chamber of Commerce elections by a court ruling