Hossein Kazempour Ardebili
Hossein Kazempour Ardabili | |
---|---|
Ambassador of Iran to Japan | |
In office 1991–1995 | |
Preceded by | Mohammad Hossein Adeli |
Succeeded by | Manouchehr Mottaki |
Minister of Commerce | |
In office 11 March 1981 – 17 August 1981 | |
President | Abolhassan Banisadr |
Preceded by | Reza Sadr |
Succeeded by | Habibollah Asgaroladi |
Personal details | |
Born | 1952 Oklahoma State University (MBA ) |
Hossein Kazempour Ardebili (
Biography
Hossein Kazempour Ardebili was born in Tehran in 1952.
Career
To cover his expenses during his studies in the U.S. he worked as a pizza delivery man.
He served as the Iranian ambassador to Japan between March 1990 and December 1994.[5] A Japanese police investigation in 2000 accused him of having been involved in exports of parts of antitank rocket launchers to Iran, violating Japanese restrictions against exports of weapons to Iran since 1967.[5] According to the accusation, Kazempour and another employee of the embassy signed checks for Sun Beam, the Japanese company making the delivery.[5] The former leaders of the (now-bankrupt) company pleaded guilty in March 2000, while the Iranian embassy at the time denied involvement and said that the sale was unauthorised.[5] Kazempour was not charged because of diplomatic immunity, and afterwards refused to comment on the subject.[2]
After returning from Japan he initially became an adviser to the foreign minister,
He served again as his country's top representative to OPEC from 2013 to his death in 2020.
Death
On 5 March 2020, amid the
Evaluation
According to Bloomberg News, he was an "ultimate OPEC negotiator" who "defended Iran's oil interests through war and sanctions." The news agency's report on his death describes him as "a constant" in the world's oil diplomacy, and was a "stubborn negotiator" in OPEC's meetings, especially during clashes with Iran's rival Saudi Arabia.[2] In 2008, Kazempour told the Hamshahri newspaper that, "If Iran has had success in the international energy sector, I have been one of the main agents of this success."[2] Arne Walther, former secretary general of the International Energy Forum describes him as having a "poker face" and having mastered "the art of bureaucratic mischief".[2] Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif described him as a "strong defender of national interests ... and candid advisor to the Islamic Republic's officials".[4]
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8156-5432-2.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Grant Smith; Golnar Motevalli (16 May 2020). "OPEC's Ultimate Fighter: Iran's Man Battled Bombs and Sanctions". Bloomberg. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- ^ Mehrnews Agency. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Iran's OPEC governor Kazempour Ardebili dies of brain hemorrhage". Tehran Times. 16 May 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Former Iran diplomat accused in arms case". The Japan Times. 25 March 2000. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- ^ Input Solutions (2001). "Profile - Hossein Kazempour Ardebili". The Free Library. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- ISBN 978-0-86372-422-0.
- ^ a b c d Golnar Motevalli and Grant Smith (3 May 2020). "Iran's Veteran OPEC Governor in Coma After Brain Hemorrhage". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ "Iran's OPEC governor dies after brain haemorrhage". Reuters. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ "Funeral held for Iran's OPEC governor". Tehran Times. 17 May 2020.
- ^ "OPEC holds special ceremony to condole Kazempour's passing". Mehr News. 20 May 2020.