TEHRAN - Iranian government spokesman Mohammad-Baqer Nobakht has rejected rumors that Industry, Mining, and Trade Minister Mohammad-Reza Ne’matzadeh has been dismissed.

“He is among the experienced ministers and will continue his job,” Nobakht his weekly press conference on Tuesday.
Some believe that Ne’matzadeh has not been successful in resolving extant problems regarding domestic and foreign trade, and market stabilization in particular.
Nobakht then talked about his last week’s trip to the southwestern and western provinces of Khuzestan and Ilam where he was informed of 50 thousand hectares of “dying agricultural fields.”
“The plan, the largest soil-water management scheme in the history of Iran, dating back to 2001, was initiated by the Supreme Leader while he visited Khuzestan Province.”
“So far, over 158 thousand hectares of Khuzestan plains have been revived and handed over to farmers while there is the same area is yet to be restored.”
On the hijack of an Iranian fishing vessel with its 15 crew members on Sunday by Somali pirates, Nobakht said that necessary measures will be taken to investigate the issue.
He then took the opportunity to thank the brave Iranian guards securing national waters and borders, keeping away the enemy and providing safety for Iranians inside the country as well.
In response to the Tehran Times question on whether any gas contract was signed between Iran and other countries participating at the third Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), held in Tehran on Monday, the government spokesman said the conference will definitely help “integrate gas market.”
“The conference is shaping up like OPEC and we are hoping to take advantage of our country’s gas [market] capacity in addition to the oil market.”