The Iranian government has rejected a motion passed by the reformist-dominated Parliament to merge the oil and energy ministries, reported the official Iranian news agency, IRNA, quoting a press report on Monday.
The daily Aftab-e Yazd quoted Abdul-Hamid Emami, a deputy energy minister, as saying "the government has rejected the motion and proposed the formation of an energy coordinating council."
The council will handle policymaking in energy, water and electricity affairs.
The proposal to merge the oil and energy ministries was presented to Parliament in May, backed by 50 deputies. Last month, the lawmakers passed another motion to merge the labor and cooperatives ministries.
Tehran's quest to streamline government activities has already led to the merger of the ministries of agriculture and construction jihad to form the ministry of rural development and agriculture.
Meanwhile, the ministries of industry and mines and metals have been merged to form the ministry of industry and mines – Albawaba.com
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