Iran replaces Interior Minister after a scandal

New York Times: Two weeks after Parliament dismissed the interior minister in a scandal over his credentials, deputies voted on Tuesday to confirm President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s nominee to replace him.

The New York Times

By NAZILA FATHI
Published: November 18, 2008

TEHRAN — Two weeks after Parliament dismissed the interior minister in a scandal over his credentials, deputies voted on Tuesday to confirm President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s nominee to replace him.

The vote was 138 in favor of the new minister, Sadeq Mahsouli, a Revolutionary Guard commander, and 112 opposed. About 20 lawmakers abstained.

The vote took place two weeks after Parliament fired Ali Kordan after it became clear that he did not hold a doctorate from Oxford University, as he had claimed.

Mr. Mahsouli was confirmed as lawmakers sought more details about the source of his wealth. Mr. Mahsouli, who is a close ally of Mr. Ahmadinejad, withdrew his nomination as oil minister in 2005 after members of Parliament raised questions about his income.

On Tuesday, Mr. Ahmadinejad defended Mr. Mahsouli, saying he had not accumulated his wealth while in government.

“There is nothing wrong if a person engages in economic activities when he does not hold government positions,” he said during a speech broadcast live from Parliament on state radio in support of Mr. Mahsouli.

“If you want to put an end to such concerns, you should come up with a bill that would investigate the wealth of all senior officials from the beginning of the revolution,” Mr. Ahmadinejad said, referring to the wealth of his opponents among former senior leaders.