President Rouhani names 3 women as vice presidents, assistant

President Hassan Rouhani has appointed three women as vice presidents and assistant in his new cabinet.

In separate decrees on Wednesday, the Iranian president appointed Massoumeh Ebtekar as vice president for women and family affairs and La’aya Joneidi as vice president for legal affairs.

Ebtekar was a vice president and the head of Iran's Department of Environment during Rouhani’s first term.

Joneidi is a professor of law at the University of Tehran.

Rouhani also named Shahindokht Molaverdi as assistant for civil rights. She was the vice president for women and family affairs in Rouhani’s previous administration.

On Tuesday, Rouhani submitted the list of 17 nominees for 18 cabinet positions to the parliament.

The nominee for the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology is yet to be presented to the parliament.

Separately on Tuesday, Rouhani reinstated Es’haq Jahangiri as the first vice president for a second consecutive term.

The lawmakers will begin holding debates on the nominees on August 15, with the Iranian president being allowed to defend his cabinet picks.

SS