Iran appoints cabinet’s 3rd woman to helm tourism ministry

Iran’s moderate President Hassan Rouhani has appointed a woman as the head of the country’s tourism and cultural heritage department.

Iran’s moderate President Hassan Rouhani has appointed a woman as the head of the country’s tourism and cultural heritage department.

Rouhani has already appointed two female vice presidents, to head the environmental protection organization and the department for women and family affairs. (AP File Photo)

His website said Saturday report says Rouhani appointed Zahra Ahmadipour as deputy president in charge of the tourism and cultural heritage department.

Ahmadipour’s previous role was as a middle-rank official in the country’s Interior Ministry. She is now the third female member of the Cabinet.

Earlier on Tuesday, parliament approved her predecessor, Masoud Soltanifar, as the minister of youth affairs and sport.

Rouhani has already appointed two female vice presidents, to head the environmental protection organization and the department for women and family affairs.

The Cabinet reshuffle comes ahead of next May’s presidential election, when Rouhani will seek to appeal to women and a younger generation of voters.