Iran replaces central bank chief as economy faces crisis

Iran replaced its central bank chief yesterday, local media reported, amid the fallout over banking scandals and the crisis facing the country’s economy, reports AFP from Tehran.

Valiollah Seif, who had served as the bank’s governor since President Hassan Rouhani took power in August 2013, was replaced by Abdolnasser Hemati following a cabinet meeting, according to the official IRNA news agency.

Hemati, 61, previously served as head of Central Insurance of Iran, as well as both Sina Bank and Bank Melli. He had been slated to become ambassador to China until he was recalled at the last minute.

The head of Iran’s Planning and Budget Organisation, Mohammad-Bagher Nobakht, who is also government spokesman, offered his resignation at the cabinet meeting but it was rejected by Rouhani.

The central bank has been criticised particularly over its handling of a currency crisis that has seen the rial lose more than half its value against the dollar in the past year.

An attempt in April to enforce a fixed rate for the rial sparked a boom in black market exchanges, forcing the bank to backtrack as the currency’s street value crashed to record lows in June.

 

Iran replaces central bank chief as economy faces crisis

Iran replaced its central bank chief yesterday, local media reported, amid the fallout over banking scandals and the crisis facing the countrys economy, reports AFP from Tehran. Valiollah Seif, who had served as the banks governor since President Hassan Rouhani took power in August 2013, was replaced by Abdolnasser Hemati following a cabinet meeting, according to the official IRNA news agency. Hemati, 61, previously served as head of Central Insurance of Iran, as well as both Sina Bank and Bank Melli. He had been slated to become ambassador to China until he was recalled at the last minute. The head of Irans Planning and Budget Organisation, Mohammad-Bagher Nobakht, who is also government spokesman, offered his resignation at the cabinet meeting but it was rejected by Rouhani. The central bank has been criticised particularly over its handling of a currency crisis that has seen the rial lose more than half its value against the dollar in the past year. An attempt in April to enforce a fixed rate for the rial sparked a boom in black market exchanges, forcing the bank to backtrack as the currencys street value crashed to record lows in June.