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Iran’s parliament to question foreign, industry ministers over ‘Zionist cigarettes’ imports

Society Materials 15 November 2014 18:07 (UTC +04:00)
Head of the Article 90 Commission of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Ali Pourmokhtar said the parliament summoned the foreign and industry, mine, and trade ministers over the case of Marlboro cigarettes imports.
Iran’s parliament to question foreign, industry ministers over ‘Zionist cigarettes’ imports

Tehran, Iran, Nov. 15

By Milad Fashtami - Trend:

Head of the Article 90 Commission of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Ali Pourmokhtar said the parliament summoned the foreign and industry, mine, and trade ministers over the case of Marlboro cigarettes imports.

According to Iran's Fars news agency, the country issued necessary licenses for importing and producing 12 billion Marlboro cigarettes.

Marlboro is the largest selling brand of cigarettes in the world. It is made by Philip Morris USA (a branch of Altria) within the US, and by Philip Morris International (now separate from Altria) outside the US.

Iranian officials accused the American company of having ties with Israel.

"The Foreign Ministry, six months ago, sent us a long list of companies that may have ties with the Zionist regime and the name of the company Philip Morris was included in the list. But surprisingly the Industry, Mine, and Trade Ministry issued license for the company over a month ago, saying they couldn't find any proof about the company's relations with Tel Aviv," he said.

"Now we want to question the two ministers in this regard," Pourmokhtar added.

Reportedly, the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade issued the license for legal imports of Marlboro cigarettes to prevent smuggling.

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