Mohammad Nahavandian

Mohammad Nahavandian (Persian: ‌محمد نهاوندیان‎‎, born 2 February 1954) is an Iranian politician and economist who currently serves as the Chief of Staff of the President of Iran.

Early life and education

Nahavandian is the son of Jafar Nahavandian, a famous Iranian religious figure and founder of Hossienieh Zanjaniha. He was born on 2 February 1954 in Tehran. He graduated from Alavi Institute in 1976 with a degree in economics and then moved to United States for education at George Washington University. He left the United States and returned to Iran before Iranian Revolution. He was one of the closest people to Morteza Motahari and Mohammad Javad Bahonar. He then founded Economic Council of Iran in 1980 but returned to the United States to continue his education. He received his Ph.D in economics in 1989 and founded Islamic Cooperation of the Americans. He returned to Iran after eight years in 1994.

Career

Nahavandian became deputy minister of commerce, having been appointed by Yahya Ale Eshaq. After Mohammad Shariatmadari succeeded Ale Eshaq, he remained at his position. In 2002, he resigned from office to become Economic adviser to the President Mohammad Khatami. He also became head of economic programs at IRIB in the same year. After Ali Larijani was appointed as the Secretary of Supreme National Security Council, he named Nahavandian as his deputy in economic affairs. He was also choice of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the head of Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) in 2006 but he rejected it to continue his career at the Security Council. After the resignation of Larijani, he also do same.

In December 2007, he was elected as the deputy president of Iran Chamber of Commerce Industries and Mines. After resignation of long time president of the chamber Mohammad Reza Behzadian, Nahavandian was elected as his successor with 165 votes from representatives of cities and organizations and becomes president of the chamber. He was one of the campaign members of Ali Akbar Velayati during 2013 presidential election but after the election of Hassan Rouhani, he was named as his economic adviser and head of economic commission for the transition affairs. It was reported that Nahavandian will become chief of staff of the president after the inauguration of Rouhani. After Rouhani took office as the President of Iran, he officially appointed Nahavandian for the position, effective from 4 August 2013.

Works

• “New Horizons in Trade Policy-Making”, Commerce Publishing Co., Tehran, 2002
• “Tobacco Conflict, Study of Iran-British Economic Relations in 19th Century”, Fajr Publications, Tehran, 1978

• Publications of Nahavandian