The rumor of Hossein Forouzan's appointment as the Secretary of the Supreme Council of Free Zones, rather than being a sign of meritocracy, has once again raised the issue of the precedence of political and ethnic relations in the country's executive structure. Forouzan has been proposed as the main candidate for this position while informed sources claim that this selection was made against the opinion of the Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance, Seyed Ali Madani Zadeh, and was carried out 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 during Hassan Rouhani's first government by the order of Akbar Torkan, the then Secretary of the Supreme Council of Free Zones, stepped down from this position after several judicial cases related to misconduct and corruption during his management period were raised. However, his critics say that some of these cases have not yet been resolved, raising the question of how he has met the necessary conditions 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 Supreme Council of Free Zones, efforts were made to return him to the CEO position of the Maku Free Zone. Some observers also believe that one of the reasons 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 have the direct support of Masoud Pezeshkian.
The Future of Forouzan's Appointment
Now, it remains to be seen whether the news of the issuance of the Secretary of the Supreme 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 judicial cases will be an obstacle to assuming this responsibility. Meanwhile, some sources in the Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Free Zones believe that even if Forouzan's appointment as the Secretary of the Council 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 Supreme Council or as the CEO of the Maku Free Zone, seems almost certain.
