- Title: IRAN: Parliament approves most Ahmadinejad ministers
- Date: 3rd September 2009
- Summary: TEHRAN, IRAN (SEPTEMBER 3, 2009) (REUTERS) INTERIOR OF IRANIAN PARLIAMENT VARIOUS OF PARLIAMENT LAWMAKERS SEATED IRANIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD ENTERING PARLIAMENT HALL AND TAKING A SEAT VARIOUS OF PARLIAMENT SESSION IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN PRESIDENT, MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, SAYING: "Parliament is a cornerstone of our system of government, and the cornerstone of our nation." VARIOUS OF AHMADINEJAD LEAVING PARLIAMENT HALL VARIOUS OF PARLIAMENT LAWMAKERS VOTING ON AHMADINEJAD'S NEW CABINET MINISTERS IRANIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER ALI LARIJANI VOTING MORE OF PARLIAMENT LAWMAKERS VOTING WIDE OF PARLIAMENT HALL/LARIJANI DELIVERING SPEECH (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER ALI LARIJANI SAYING: "In relation to the nomination for the defence minister, Mr. (Ahmad) Vahidi has received a total of 227 votes in support out of the 286 members present. Therefore parliament gives its vote of confidence to Ahmad Vahidi as defence minister." PARLIAMENT LAW MAKERS CHANTING "DEATH TO ISRAEL" AHMADINEJAD AND HIS NEW CABINET MINISTERS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN PRESIDENT, MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, SAYING: "I hope that we can serve the Iranian nation, and do our utmost to carry out our duties for the Iranian people." (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD COMMENTS ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR ISSUES BEFORE LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE: "No one can impose any sanctions on Iran any longer, we are ready to discuss all issues, and we are focused on our new proposed package, which we have sent to them (the IAEA)."
- Embargoed: 18th September 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA960CTE7QKNTYY3MGBMLDOERBG
- Story Text: Iran's parliament approved on Thursday (September 3) 18 ministers and rejected three in president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's proposed new 21-member cabinet following his disputed re-election in June, the speaker announced.
The outcome of parliament's voting on the nominees signalled a limited setback for the hardline president, who had four of his first-choice nominees rejected by the assembly in 2005.
Crucially for Ahmadinejad, heavy weight nominees including the oil, defence, intelligence, interior, economy and foreign ministers were all approved by MPs.
The nomination of Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi has been condemned by Argentina, which accuses him of involvement in the 1994 bombing of a Buenos Aires Jewish centre that killed 85 people. Tehran has repeatedly denied any link to the attack.
He received the highest number of votes in favour of all nominees, 227 out of 286 members of parliament who were present.
"In relation to the nomination for the defence ministry, Mr. (Ahmad) Vahidi has received a total of 227 votes in support out of the 286 members present. Therefore parliament gives its vote of confidence to Ahmad Vahidi as Defence Minister," said parliament speaker Ali Larijani.
The three nominees who were rejected were the proposed energy, welfare and education ministers.
At a news conference Ahmadinejad told reporters he hoped to, along with his newly appointed cabinet, serve the Iranian nation.
"I hope that we can serve the Iranian nation, and do our utmost to carry out our duties for the Iranian nation," said Ahmadinejad.
When questioned by a reporter on Iran's nuclear issues and the imposition of sanctions on the country, Ahmadinejad stated that sanctions could no longer be imposed on Iran.
"No one can impose any sanctions on Iran any longer; we are ready to discuss all issues, and we are focused on our new proposed package, which we have sent to them (the IAEA)," he said.
Of three nominated women ministers, only the health Minister Marzieh Vahid-Dastjerdi was approved. Vahid-Dastjerdi will become the Islamic Republic's first female minister.
Ahmadinejad has three months to propose new candidates to replace those voted down by the 290-seat parliament.
Despite the rejection of three ministers, the cabinet can still start working and Ahmadinejad has scheduled its first meeting for Sunday. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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