Akbar Torkan

Akbar Torkan is a mechanical engineer[1][2] & Iranian politician who is President Hassan Rouhani's chief adviser since 5 August 2013. On 27 August 2013, a spokesperson for Rouhani, Mohammad Reza Sadeq, denied earlier reports that Torkan had been appointed as a senior adviser to Rouhani, BBC Monitoring reported, citing a Persian-language report by the Islamic Republic News Agency. He was the Minister of Defense and Minister of Roads and Transportation in the government headed by President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Career and political stance

Torkan is an graduated from Sharif University of Technology.[3] He was governor of Hormozagan, and Ilam provinces after revolution in 1979. Eventhough he was always a civil figure he served as the head of the defense industries establishment during war time. After the war a supported president Rafsanjani in his election.

He was appointment as the Minister of Defense in 1989 by Rafsanjani in his cabinet in his first term.[3] He was approved by the Majlis with a majority vote, 242 for and 10 against.[3] In second term of Rafsanjani's presidency, Torkan was appointed as the Minister of Roads and Transportation.[4]

According to the Tehran Times, Torkan is one of Rouhani's "trusted members of Rohani’s inner circle." The same source said that he is known for his liberal views on a market economy, and that he served as the deputy director of Rouhani's presidential campaign.[5]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.hamshahrionline.ir/details/225839
  2. ↑ http://www.irceo.net/fullstory.aspx?id=3126
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Ehteshami, Anoushiravan (1991). "After Khomeini: the Structure of Power in the Iranian Second Republic". Political Studies. XXXIX: 148–157. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9248.1991.tb00586.x. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  4. ↑ همه چیز درباره رئیس‌جمهور هفتم BBC Persian. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  5. ↑ "Rohani appoints Torkan as head of advisors," Tehran Times (27 August 2013).