President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a decree appointed commerce minister Mehdi Ghazanfari as the caretaker of the ministry of industries and mines. The decree reads:

Dear respected commerce minister Mr. Ghazanfari

In line with implementing the article 53 of the Budget Law ratified by Majlis and as per the approval coded 46514.33590 approved on May 8, 2011 by the cabinet of ministers and according to the article 135 of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Constitution and based on the article 94 of the civil services management law, you are vested with all the legal responsibilities and duties of the ministry of industries and mines.

I wish you success in your new position.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

It should be noted that the government is planning to merge ministries of commerce and industries and mines and reorganize production and trade affairs in a new ministry with new structure and mission.