Ali Nikzad

Ali Nikzad (Persian: علی نیکزاد‎, born 1961) is an Iranian conservative politician and academic and a former cabinet minister.[2]

Ali Nikzad
Member of the Parliament of Iran
Incumbent
Assumed office 27 May 2020
Constituency	Ardabil, Nir, Namin and Sareyn
Minister of Transportation and Housing
In office 27 June 2011 – 15 August 2013
President	Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Abbas Ahmad Akhondi
Minister of Housing and Urban Development
In office 9 August 2009 – 27 June 2011
President	Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Preceded by	Mohammad Saeedikia
Succeeded by	Himself (Transportation and Housing)
Minister of Information and Communications Technology Acting
In office 2 December 2012 – 26 February 2013
President	Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Preceded by	Reza Taghipour
Succeeded by	Hassan Nami
Minister of Roads and Transportation Acting
In office 7 February 2011 – 27 June 2011
President	Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Preceded by	Hamid Behbahani
Succeeded by	Himself (Transportation and Housing)
Governor of Ardabil Province
In office 29 August 2005 – 12 November 2008
Preceded by	Javad Negharandeh
Succeeded by	Mansour Haghighatpour
Personal details
Born	1961 (age 59–60) Ardabil, Iran
Nationality	Iranian
Alma mater	Iran University of Science and Technology
Awards	Order of Construction (1st class)[1]

Early life and education

Nikzad was born in 1961.[3] He holds a bachelor's degree in urban development from the University of Elm-va-san'at (Science and Industry).[3] Then he received his master's degree in public management from Industrial Management University.[3] Akbar Nikzad his brother is an Iranian politician and the former Governor of Ardabil Province.

Career

Nikzad was appointed governor of Ardabil Province in 2005.[3] He then was the director of the municipalities organization at the ministry of interior until 2009.[3] He served as the minister of transportation and housing from August 2009 to June 2011. He was also acting minister of roads and transportation from February to June 2011.[4] As minister of housing, he replaced Mohammad Saeedikia after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was reelected.[5]

On 7 February 2011, Nikzad was appointed by Ahmadinejad as acting minister of roads and transportation to succeed former dismissed Minister Hamid Behbahani. Nikzad was appointed minister of infrastructural affairs in May 2011 when the ministry was created, combining the two ministries of housing and urban development and road and transportation.[6] At the end of 2012, he was also appointed acting minister of communications and information technology. President Ahmedinejad proposed him as minister for the post in January 2013. However, he was not approved by the Majlis.[7]

He announced his candidacy for the 2013 presidential election.[8] However, he later declined his candidacy.[9] In June 2013, Nikzad was nominated as a candidate for Tehran mayor.[10] The "Viva Spring" group consisting of Ahmedinejad's allies could not win the local elections that was also held on 14 June 2013 as the presidential election.[11] Therefore, Nikzad's election as Tehran mayor became unlikely.[11] In 2017 election, he was appointed as campaign chairman of presidential candidate Ebrahim Raisi.[12][13]

References

1. نشان‌های دولتی در روزهای پایانی خاتمی و احمدی‌نژاد به چه‌کسانی رسید؟. Tasnim News Agency (in Persian). 24 August 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
2. Alfoneh, Ali (Spring 2011). "All Ahmadinejad's Men". The Middle East Quarterly. XVIII (2): 79–84. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
3. "A Brief Biography of Iran's New Ministers". Payvand. 7 September 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
4. "Iran-NDE - Central Intelligence Agency". Central Intelligence Agency. 10 December 2009. Archived from the original on 26 October 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
5. "President Nominates Nikzad to Lead Iran's Housing Ministry". Shana. 31 August 2009. Archived from the original on 7 September 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
6. "President introduces Ali Nikzad as head of new ministry to Majlis". Zawya. Tehran. 23 May 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
7. "Iranian parliament disapproves Minister appointed by President". Avciya. 14 January 2013. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
8. "Iran Election Watch 2013: Twenty four presidential candidates emerge". The International. 21 March 2013. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
9. "چه کسی کاندیدای نهایی دولت خواهد بود؟". IUS News. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
10. "Censoring an Iranian Campaign Story". EA WorldView. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
11. "End of Ahmadinejad's "Viva Spring"". Anadolu Agency. Tehran. 17 June 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
12. "Ex-minister made Raisi campaign chief". 23 April 2017.
13. "Is conservative Iranian candidate reviving Ahmadinejad's Cabinet?". 23 April 2017.