Page 45 - IRANRptAug20

Iran’s trade minister fired amid row over liberalising car market
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has appointed a caretaker industry, mines and trade minister after firing Reza Rahmani for not following orders, Asbe Bokhar reported on May 12.
Rahmani’s departure appears to have occurred after a big behind the scenes battle over a push by Rouhani to liberalise the car market. Prices on the market have continued to soar in recent days.
Hossein Modares Khiabani has been appointed as the caretaker minister, according to the presidential website.
Rouhani assigned him five main tasks and called on him to pay special attention to plans for a surge in domestic production under the shadow of cruel US sanctions, IFP reported.
Reports in local media suggested that Rahmani's sacking had been in the offing for several weeks and that Rouhani was waiting for a parliamentary decision on allowing the establishment of a specific ministry for trade, something which was rejected by parliament on May 11.
The president also urged Modares Khiabani to step up intra-organisational coordination and work in effective cooperation with the state-run and private sectors.
Industry observers who spoke with ​bne IntelliNews​ suggested that the sacking was part of a wider battle between the ministry and the presidential office, with Rouhani’s office accusing the former minister of blocking progress in liberalising the market.
Some estimates say prices charged have increased by around 60% above regulated prices. The confusion in the market led many potential car buyers to hold off on a purchase until a clearer picture on prices emerged from the scrum of ministers and officials seen over the issue in the past week.
Meanwhile, cars imported into Iran continue to suffer a miserable fate. Thousands of models are stuck in ports and yards around the country. Some have remained frozen in situ for at least two years.
9.1.3 ​Aviation sector news
Iranian plane reportedly takes evasive action to avoid collision with US fighter jet over Syria
Turkey suspends Iran flights due to coronavirus second wave
Several passengers on an Iranian airline passenger plane were injured on July 23 over Syria after the pilot changed altitude to avoid collision with a US fighter jet, Iranian media said. ​The US military said its F-15 fighter jet had maintained a safe distance.
The Mahan Air plane was heading from Tehran to Beirut when the safety manoeuvre was staged by the pilot. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the incident would be investigated.
Mahan Air has long been on the sanctions list of the US, accused of engaging in operations that support terrorists by transporting fighters and arms to Middle East conflict zones, claims that it refutes.
Iran’s official IRIB news agency cited a passenger who described how his head had hit the roof of the plane during the altitude change, while video footage showed an elderly passenger sprawled on the floor.
The head of Beirut airport told Reuters that all the passengers had left the plane and some had minor injuries.
The Fars news agency reported that the plane arrived back in Tehran early on July 24.
Turkey on July 19 suspended flights to Iran because of the extent of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the Islamic Republic.
The move was confirmed by a spokesman for Iran's Civil Aviation Organization (CAOI), Reza Jafarzadeh, according to the official Iranian IRNA news agency.
45​ IRAN Country Report August 2020 www.intellinews.com