Eshaq Jahangiri

Eshaq Jahangiri Kouhshahi (Persian: ‌اسحاق جهانگیری کوهشاهی‎‎, born 10 January 1957) is an Iranian politician and first vice president of Hassan Rouhani's government. Jahangiri was the minister of industries and mines from 1997 to 2005 under President Mohammad Khatami. Before that, he was governor of Isfahan Province. He was also a member of Parliament for two terms.

Early life and education

Jahangiri was born on 10 January 1957 in baft, kerman Province. He graduated from University of Kerman with a degree in physics. He was active in revolutionary groups prior to the Iranian Revolution and once was wounded by the forces of the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. He later received his second Ph.D from Iran University of Science and Technology in industrial engineering.

Career

Jahangiri began his political career following the Iranian revolution. He became deputy head of the agriculture department in Kerman in July 1980. Then, he was appointed its head in 1982. He was elected to the Iranian Parliament in 1984 election. He was also reelected in next election. He was appointed governor of Isfahan on 1 September 1992 by Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani to replace with Gholamhossein Karbaschi. He held the position until 20 August 1997 when he was nominated by Mohammad Khatami as the minister of mines and metals and was confirmed by the Parliament. His portfolio was later changed to the minister of industries and mines and he held that position until President Ahmadinejad's cabinet took over in 2005.