TEHRAN – A senior official at Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) has criticized a government plan to form a “Supreme Council of Associations,” saying it lacks legal basis and risks weakening the independence of the private sector.

Hossein Pirmoazzen, ICCIMA deputy head, said the proposal by the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade contradicts the Law on Continuous Improvement of the Business Environment, which assigns the chamber responsibility for organizing business associations.

“Government interference in the internal affairs of the private sector is against the law. Establishing such a council through MIMT would be a clear example of state intervention in autonomous private-sector structures,” he said. “It could fragment economic actors, create parallel associations, and undermine genuine representation.”

Pirmoazzen added that associations must be formed “from the bottom up, based on the needs and will of businesspeople, not imposed from above.” He urged the government to prioritize dialogue with the private sector, acting as a facilitator and impartial regulator rather than a direct decision-maker.

He stressed that private-sector independence is a cornerstone of open economies, ensuring competitiveness and investor trust. “When the government intervenes in organizing associations, it goes against both the letter and the spirit of the law on improving the business environment,” he said.

EF/MA