Iran defence minister's appointment is a 'decisive slap to Israel' - Telegraph

Iran defence minister's appointment is a 'decisive slap to Israel' - Telegraph: "Iran defence minister's appointment is a 'decisive slap to Israel'
Iran's parliament on Thursday approved Iran's first woman minister, backed a relative novice as oil minister and installed as defence minister a man who said his appointment was a 'decisive slap to Israel'.


Published: 2:49PM BST 03 Sep 2009

Deputies rejected three of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's proposed new 21-member cabinet, which followed the hardliner's re-election in a disputed June election.

The outcome of parliament's voting signalled a limited setback for Mr Ahmadinejad, who had four of his first-choice nominees rejected by the assembly in 2005. Crucially for Iran's hard-line president, heavyweight nominees including the oil, defence, intelligence, interior, economy and foreign ministers were all approved.

Bolstered by support in Iran, the defiant president turned his attention to the international community, saying Tehran was ready for more sanctions and would not bow to pressure in meeting any deadline set by world powers over its nuclear programme.

'No one can impose sanctions on Iran any more. We welcome sanctions. We have given our proposed package,' Mr Ahmadinejad said, referring to a package of proposals that would form the basis of fresh talks with world powers.

Iranian lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to approve Ahmad Vahidi, the new defence minister who is wanted by Argentina over a 1994 bombing of a Jewish centre that killed 85. Mr Vahidi's nomination was condemned by Argentina, but Tehran has repeatedly denied a link between the new defence minister and the attack.

Massoud Mirkazemi, the new oil minister, received the lowest support of the approved ministers. Crude sales account for most state revenue in Iran, the world's fifth-largest oil exporter. His candidacy for the oil portfolio came under intense scrutiny as MPs debated his lack of experience in the vital sector.

MPs also gave approval to Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi as health minister, making her the nation's first woman government minister since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. But MPs rejected three nominees for the 21-seat cabinet – the choice for the important energy ministry and two women proposed for the education and welfare-social security posts.

The June presidential poll, which was followed by huge opposition protests, plunged Iran into its deepest internal crisis since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and exposed deepening divisions in its ruling elite.

The legislature is dominated by conservatives, but some of Mr Ahmadinejad's supporters have abandoned him since the election."