President Rouhani names new members to Iran’s Supreme Council of Space

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani appointed three new members to the Supreme Council of Space – the supreme space policy-making body in Iran – on 14 August 2016.

The three individuals appointed to the Supreme Council of Space are Elham Aminzadeh, Mostafa Safavi-Homami and Hassan Shafti. Each appointment lasts for four years and nominations to the Supreme Council are made by the Iranian Minister for Communication and Information Technology.

Elham Aminzadeh is an academic, lawmaker and an assistant to President Rouhani. Dr. Aminzadeh is an expert in international law, obtaining her Ph.D. from the University of Glasgow in the 1990’s. As a member of the Majlis – Iran’s legislative body – Dr. Aminzadeh served as deputy head of the Majlis’ national security and foreign policy committee. As well as being a member of the Supreme Council of Space, Dr. Aminzadeh serves as Vice President to President Rouhani for legal affairs.

Dr. Mostafa Safavi-Homami is an Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at the Amirkabir University of Technology – Tehran Polytechnic where he teaches courses in satellite communications and transmission systems and has published widely in academic journals on those topics.

Dr. S. Hassan Shafti is a former head of the Iran Space Agency and is currently an Assistant Professor at the Amirkabir University of Technology – Tehran Polytechnic, though it is not known what courses he teaches and what research he is currently doing.

The purpose of the Supreme Council of Space is to conduct all policy making for the application of space technologies to the peaceful uses of outer space; manufacturing, launching and use of Iran’s national research satellites; approving all space related state and private sector programmes; promoting partnerships with the private sector for the efficient use of space; and identifying opportunities and setting guidelines concerning regional and international cooperation in space issues.

President Rouhani is chair of the Supreme Council of Space.

Original published at: http://spacewatchme.com/2016/08/president-rouhani-names-new-members-irans-supreme-council-space/