After a week of speculation and rumors, President Hassan Rouhani has accepted the resignation of Minister of Health and Medical Education Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi, who quit over budget issues and accusations of corruption at the ministry.

A video of his last address at the ministry was published online. “With my staying, nothing will change other than the damages will increase. The issue is no longer normal but has become personal. Hopefully, this change will cause someone to come [in my place] and … do what was promised [by the administration],” said Ghazizadeh Hashemi. He added, “I’m a hard worker and I have a high tolerance … these aren’t new issues, and I have not made these issues public until now. I’ve written numerous letters to the president; many things have happened and I have not told anybody.”

Citing some of his issues, Ghazizadeh Hashemi said that he did not want to remain just to send people away who needed medical help or force people to purchase low-quality equipment and medicine from the outside and “bring into the system a group of rent-seekers.” He added, “I’m not this kind of person. It was a mistake to work with these types of people.”

Iranian parliamentarian Elyas Hazrati first tweeted rumors of Ghazizadeh Hashemi’s resignation on December 30: “Unfortunately I heard the news that Dr. Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi, in protest of the reduction of [his ministry’s] budget, has resigned and has not been participating in Cabinet meetings for some days.” Hazrati added, “It is the responsibility of all those who are sympathetic to prevent his resignation, and I hope that the health minister returns to the Cabinet soon.”