TEHRAN, Iran — The resignation of Mohammad-Ali Najafi, who was in charge of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization of Iran, after only five months has stirred rumors about the organization's deep financial issues and has brought to the surface accusations of corruption from the previous administration that appeared insurmountable, even for someone with the history and reputation of Najafi.
Najafi is a famous Reformist technocrat who was originally nominated as the minister of education by President Hassan Rouhani, but failed to receive a vote of confidence from the conservative-dominated parliament. Najafi served twice as minister of higher education, as head of the Planning and Budget Organization during President Mohammad Khatami’s first term, was elected to the Tehran City Council in 2007 and, during the 2009 presidential elections, was the economic adviser to candidate Mehdi Karroubi.
