The Trace of Mokhber in the Chamber of Commerce Elections

Mokhber’s Footprint in the Chamber of Commerce Elections

Mokhber’s footprint in the Chamber of Commerce elections: According to Iran Gate, despite more than a month having passed since the announcement of the Chamber of Commerce election results, the controversies surrounding it continue and have recently entered a new phase. Statements and documents have been published 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 neither hidden nor deniable. Given the adoption of policies conflicting with market economics, it is natural for the Chamber of Commerce, which is a reflection of Iran’s private sector, to face challenges with Raisi’s government.

Now, this disagreement has entered a new phase, and it seems the government intended to undermine the fragile independence of this institution by interfering in the internal elections of the Chamber of Commerce. Reports and statements from some sources suggest government interference in these elections through forgery of documents of some candidates. On the other hand, it is said that Mohammad Mokhber, the First Vice President of the thirteenth administration, is the man behind these interventions.

Root Causes of the Chamber and Government Issues

Statements and the presence of some well-known and controversial figures of 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 in the thirteenth cabinet. This dissatisfaction emerged while Ebrahim Raisi, before the 2020 elections and before starting his campaign trips, visited the Chamber of Commerce and met with representatives of the private sector in the country. This meeting, which had many side effects, provoked a lot of criticism from Raisi’s supporters regarding his statements.

However, as predicted, with Ebrahim Raisi coming to power, the approach of the thirteenth cabinet was such that it drew criticism from prominent members of the Chamber of Commerce. Given Raisi’s clumsy imitation of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s cabinet, it was expected that he would take a different approach from his promises to the Chamber of Commerce members.

In any case, after the appointment of the thirteenth cabinet members, this disagreement intensified, and prominent figures active in the private sector voiced sharp criticisms of the government’s record. This trend has continued to this day, and it can even be said that the Chamber’s criticisms have become more severe and biting.

The Controversial Old Man Enters

Most critics of the government within the Chamber of Commerce accuse Mohammad Mokhber of interfering in these elections by manipulating the documents of candidates who had previously won votes. This group believes the government tried to pave the way for the presence of compliant figures like Yahya Al-e Es’haq, who is now in his eighth decade of life.

This event occurred while the disfavored and excluded candidates had previously been qualified and had high votes and were trusted by the relevant institutions. However, it seems hidden hands acted to manipulate the documents of certain figures to remove them from the electoral competition in the private sector parliament.

Such interventionist actions by forces supported by the First Vice President, Ebrahim Raisi, led to candidates like Al-e Es’haq, who were elected as alternate members, now entering the main lineup.

Who is Al-e Es’haq?

Yahya Al-e Es’haq is recognized as the most important defender of Ebrahim Raisi’s government among private sector activists. This member of the Islamic Coalition Party, who also has a history of presiding over the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, served as the Minister of Commerce in the second Rafsanjani administration. Al-e Es’haq, now 74, is the president of the Iran-Iraq Joint Chamber of Commerce and plays a controversial role in the thirteenth government’s relations with the Iraqi government and private sector.

The Relationship Between Mokhber and Al-e Es’haq

However, many critics of Raisi’s government performance refer to Al-e Es’haq as the main government figure for intervening in the internal affairs of the Chamber of Commerce. This suspicion gained strength when Mohammad Mokhber, citing Al-e Es’haq’s statements about Iran’s blocked funds in Iraq, announced the release of the Islamic Republic’s assets in this country, a claim quickly denied by Iraqi sources and the government. In fact, what Al-e Es’haq and Mokhber referred to as the release of blocked resources was the transfer of these funds from one bank to another in Iraq.

The roots of the relationship between these two date back to when Al-e Es’haq was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for the Oppressed. Mohammad Mokhber’s close connection with this foundation is well known. His presence in the Barakat Foundation was also in line with his close ties to this institution, which has drawn a lot of criticism. It is said that the history of collaboration between Mokhber and Al-e Es’haq goes back to that period and now serves as the basis for cooperation between them to interfere and manipulate the Chamber of Commerce election results.

Annulment of the Chamber of Commerce Elections by the Preliminary Court’s Decision