Response of the Privatization Organization to Mr. Ahmad Tavakoli's Claims Regarding Asset Optimization

This is in reference to your open letter attributed to you addressed to the honorable heads of the three branches of government, members of the Supreme Council for Asset Optimization, the esteemed presidency of the Joint Commission of the Seventh Development Plan, and esteemed representatives of the Islamic Consultative Assembly in the media, casting doubt on the government asset optimization approval, which was confirmed by the Supreme Leader on November 21, 2022. In order to clarify ambiguities surrounding this progressive plan and its amended regulations, the official response of the Privatization Organization is provided below to address your claims, accusations, and misunderstandings stemming from a lack of comprehensive understanding of this law.

In the open letter attributed to you, which has been shared in various media and social networks with sensational and ambiguous headlines, regrettably, the statements made are entirely false from start to finish and exemplify serious defamation, baseless accusations, slander, and dissemination of falsehoods. As stipulated in Article 576 of the Islamic Penal Code and Articles 30, 6, 9, and 1 of the Press Law of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Privatization Organization reserves the right to file a criminal complaint and pursue legal action against such claims.

Unfortunately, the aforementioned letter fails to recognize the legal documents and the provisions of the resolutions or regulations and executive bylaws of asset optimization, which have been formulated, elucidated, and communicated with the aim of increasing productivity and developing national wealth. Instead, it presents unfounded claims and special motivations, disregarding the legal framework of asset optimization and its bylaws, drawing on rumors and incorrect assumptions, and producing conclusions that are entirely false and contrary to the interests of the system and its components.

According to Article 15 of the Executive Bylaw of Asset Optimization approved in the meeting on December 24, 2022, and based on Clause 6 of Paragraph 2 of the 67th Resolution of the Supreme Economic Coordination Council, the proceeds from the optimization of government assets in the relevant organization, after deducting commissions, are to be deposited by the executor into the centralized revenue account at the Treasury. Half of the deposited amounts are immediately transferred by the Treasury to the account of capital asset acquisitions of the relevant organization, either at the headquarters or province. The remaining funds are allocated to national and provincial capital asset acquisition projects based on the allocations issued in accordance with the provisions of the Allocation Committee as per Article 30 of the Budget Planning Law according to the annual budget laws.

Paragraphs 1 and 2 of this legal article state that "the priority for spending the proceeds from the optimization of surplus assets in each province is with the province where the asset is located." Furthermore, "the allocation of proceeds from the optimization of assets of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education will be 100%." In Paragraph 3, it is stated that "the Country's Planning and Budget Organization is obligated to consider all expenditures specified in the resolution as allocated upon notification by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance and to issue the allocation authorization to the Treasury."