The rumor of Hossein Forouzan's appointment as the Secretary of the High Council of Free Zones is more indicative of the preference of political and ethnic relations in the country's executive structure than of meritocracy. Forouzan has been proposed as the main candidate for this position under circumstances where informed sources claim this selection was made against the opinion of the Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance, Seyed Ali Madani Zadeh, and with the direct order and follow-up of Masoud Pezeshkian.
A Manager with a Record of Misconduct and Corruption
Forouzan, who was appointed as the CEO of the Maku Free Zone by Akbar Torkan, the then Secretary of the High Council of Free Zones, during Hassan Rouhani's first government, stepped down after several legal cases related to misconduct and corruption during his management emerged. However, his critics say some of these cases remain unresolved, raising the question of how he has met the conditions necessary to hold one of the most important positions in the free zones sector.
Ethnicity Prevails Over Meritocracy
To understand the dimensions of this issue, it should be noted that Forouzan is considered close to Masoud Pezeshkian and, like the President, is from Azerbaijan. Furthermore, before his name was proposed for the Secretary of the High Council of Free Zones, efforts were made to reinstate him as the CEO of the Maku Free Zone. Some observers also believe that one reason for Reza Masroor's departure was the disagreement between his close circle and the faction supporting the return of managers like Hossein Forouzan; managers who enjoy the direct support of Masoud Pezeshkian.
The Future of Forouzan's Appointment
It remains to be seen whether the news regarding the issuance of the Secretary of the High Council of Free Zones' decree for Hossein Forouzan will lead to an official announcement after the completion of security and judicial inquiries, or whether his legal cases will prevent him from assuming this responsibility. Meanwhile, some sources in the Secretariat of the High Council of Free Zones believe that even if Forouzan's appointment as the Secretary is canceled, the likelihood of his appointment as the CEO of the Maku Free Zone remains high. Accordingly, these sources believe that Hossein Forouzan's return to the management of free zones, whether as the Secretary of the High Council or as the CEO of the Maku Free Zone, seems almost certain.
