Iranian Aide Calls Car, Land Dealers ‘False Professions’

An Iranian official said that real estate agencies and car dealerships are “false professions” and should be closed, warning that proprietors could face execution.

In a report monitored here on Wednesday, Tehran radio quoted the supervisor of the tribunal in charge of guilds as complaining that as long as agents and dealers were middlemen in the sale of real estate and cars, the prices of those items would be exorbitant.

The supervisor, identified only as Ramazani, also said: “Real estate agencies and car dealerships cannot be regarded as a profession, and should be described as false professions. The tribunal in charge of guilds calls on the Central Guilds Council to close down these false professions.

“If estate agents and car dealers did not review their practices, legal power would be utilized and they would be declared corrupt on Earth,” Ramazani was quoted as saying.

The charge “corrupt on Earth” is the most severe accusation in Iran. Conviction on the charge can bring the death sentence.