TEHRAN -- The Majlis here on Wednesday gave votes of confidence to the proposed ministers of oil and industries Gholam-Hossein Nozari and Ali-Akbar Mehrabian respectively.

Nozari and Mehrabian won 217 and 174 votes respectively out of 246 votes.
On October 30, President Mahmud Ahmadinejad nominated Nozari and Mehrabian for oil and industries portfolios to the Majlis.
Nozari and Mehrabian had been serving as the acting ministers of oil and industries and mines since the resignations of Kazem Vaziri-Hamaneh and Alireza Tahmasbi on Aug. 12, 2007.
Addressing the voting ceremony, Nozari expressed appreciation for the efforts of former oil ministers, saying that the oil minister should be given more ‘authority’ to push ahead with the plans in developing the oil industry.
He stated that the Middle East accounts for 60% and 40% of the world’s oil and gas market respectively.
Despite the fact that Iran’s oil industry has a significant potential for growth it has so far been neglected, Nozari regretted.
He stressed the significance of manpower in the country’s development.
The country’s manpower can play a key role in its progress, he said, adding, “If we want the oil (industry) to survive we should believe in our manpower.”