Tasnim � Iranian President Hassan Rouhani�s pick for the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade failed to garner the minimum number of votes by the Parliament members for the post.

In an open session of the parliament on Wednesday morning, the lawmakers disqualified Hossein Modarres Khiabani from taking the helm at the ministry with 140 votes against, 104 in favor and 10 abstentions from a total of 254 votes.

In May, Rouhani dismissed the former minister of industry, Reza Rahmani, and appointed Modarres Khiabani as caretaker to the ministry to handle the situation in the domestic car market and ensure a steady supply of basic commodities amid the cruel sanctions against Iran.

Rouhani had ordered Modarres Khiabani to focus efforts on management of the market and supply of the basic commodities, regulation of car prices, removal of the obstacles to domestic production and promotion of the homegrown products, enhancement of non-oil exports, and improvement of the business activities.

Modarres Khiabani has a record in the mercantile sectors of the government during the past 18 years. He has also served in managerial posts in a host of companies, from the cement industry to the engine manufacturing, and also played a leading role in the formulation of a road map to the market regulation and the road map to the promotion of exports during his tenure as a deputy minister of industry.