Iranian parliament opposes dividing up three ministries

The bill proposed splitting Ministry of Transport and Urban Development; Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade and Ministry of Sport and Youth into five separate ministries.
The bill proposed splitting Transport and Housing Ministry into Ministry of Transport and  Ministry of Housing; Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade into "Ministry of Industry and Mine” and Ministry of Trade. 
According to the bill, the National Youth Organization was to be separated from the Ministry of Sports and Youth.
Mohammad Ali Pourmokhtar, an MP who voted against the bill, said that there is not enough capacities, budget and workforce to divide the ministries.
Before voting, Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri defended the bill saying that it is required to divide the ministries in order to overcome problems caused by sanctions.
"The most important tool of the government to manage in the current situation is dividing the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade and as well as the Ministry of Transport and Urban Development,” Jahangiri stated.
Mahmoud Vaezi, the presidential chief of staff, was also present in the parliament.
‘All should get united against U.S. economic war’
Jahangiri also suggested that under the current situation, it is essential that all state bodies and political factions get united to counter the U.S. plot against the Islamic Republic.
"Under the current situation, it is essential for all the country’s officials, including the government, parliament, political factions and the people, to get united against a big plot being hatched by enemies especially the U.S.” 
The vice president noted that the U.S. has waged "economic war” against Iran in order to push Iran to the negotiating table and the Iranians should get united to counter this plot.
Iran’s industry and trade are the main targets of the U.S. economic war, Jahangiri said.
He said one of the targets "on the enemy’s agenda to strike” is the transportation sector through imposing sanctions on shipping and aviation.
He added, "Delaying formation of a ministry for trade, even for one day, to control prices and market means increase in people’s hardship.”
On May 8, President Donald Trump officially withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and vowed to re-impose sanctions against Iran.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced in May that the U.S. will apply economic and military pressure against Iran and will impose "the strongest sanctions in history” on the Islamic Republic.
Source: Tehran Times