Disaster management and emergency services — improvements to Tehran’s firefighting, waste management, and health response systems were introduced. He was also appointed as Representative of President Mohammad Khatami during a campaign to combat smuggling in 2002. In September 2005, he was elected as capital’s mayor by the City Council of capital. He is also a professor at the University of capital.
Investigations by reformist media accused his administration of selling public land at below-market rates to allies and mismanaging municipal funds. Critics argued that his focus on mega-projects favored wealthy districts while neglecting poorer neighborhoods. His background in the police and security services — including his alleged involvement in suppressing the 1999 student protests — raised ongoing concerns about his stance on civil freedoms.
