Iran military against ministry merger

The Iranian Armed Forces say they disagree with merging the country's Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology for security reasons.

Earlier in June Iran's Parliament (Majlis) proposed the merger of the Ministries of Telecommunications and Information Technology with Roads and Transportation and Housing and Urban Development.

In separate letters to Iran's Guardian Council and the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), the country's Armed Forces Headquarters warned of the security consequences of this merger, Iranian lawmaker Hossein Sobhani-Nia said on Saturday.

Sobhani-Nia added that the final decision on the merger would probably be made on Sunday, Fars News Agency reported.

In May, Iran's government announced plans to merge the ministries of Roads and Transportation with Housing and Urban Development, Energy with Oil, Industries and Mines with Commerce, and Welfare and Social Security with Labor and Social Affairs.

On May 14, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad relieved Welfare Minister Sadeq Mahsouli, Minister of Mines and Industries Ali Akbar Mehrabian and Oil Minister Massoud Mirkazemi from their posts according to the 53rd article of the Fifth Five-Year Development Plan.

According to Iran's fifth Five-Year Development Plan (2010-2015), the Iranian government is obliged to reduce its ministries form 21 to 17 to improve the efficiency of state administration.

On June 12, More than 200 lawmakers signed an amendment to the 53rd article of the country's Fifth Five-Year Development Plan which obligates the Iranian government to postpone for three years its plan to merge ministries.

Source: Press TV