President Terms Rumors Against Oil Ministry as Politically Motivated
Answering the letter from the Minister of Oil, Bijan Namdar Zangeneh, who had rejected any rumors about Oil Ministry officials' taking commission from the foreign oil firms, President Khatami termed the rumors as politically motivated.
In a letter to Zangeneh, Khatami said that great works have been done in recent years in the economic field to secure the long term interests of the Iranian nation particularly in the oil, gas and petrochemical sector.
Khatami called on the Majlis and the mass media to undertake their momentous task of supervising the state of affairs and safeguarding national interests and to provide the public with accurate information.
President added that the propaganda campaign against the Oil Ministry, which has rendered worthy services to the nation and country particularly after the June 8 presidential election is unfair, but not unexpected.
President Khatami also called on the oil minister to seriously follow up the case in coordination with the Judiciary and the Information Ministry adding that those who have leveled the charges should be accountable to the judicial body for disrupting the public opinion.