Iran's 'friend of Israel' VP denies reports of his resignation

An entry on the website of Iran's newly appointed vice-president Monday denied a local television report about his resignation.

Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaie's website categorically denied Sunday's resignation reports as a lie by enemies aimed at tarnishing the new government's image.

He was appointed by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad last Thursday as first vice- and de facto acting president.

The appointment led to widespread criticism even within pro-Ahmadinejad circles due to remarks by Rahim-Mashaie in 2008 that were perceived to be pro-Israel.

In particular, it was his remark that Iran was also friends with the Israeli people that sparked harsh political protests and calls for the resignation of Rahim-Mashaie, at that time vice-president and head of the country's tourism agency.

But Ahmadinejad ignored the criticism and defended his vice-president, who is also his son's father-in-law, although the president is known for his anti-Israel stance, controversial remarks that Israel should be wiped from the map of the Middle East and for calling the Holocaust a "fairy tale."

Rahim-Mashaie's appointment as acting president was therefore regarded as a provocative move, especially as his remark on Israe was also harshly criticized by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The report on his resignation was carried only by Press TV, the English-language network of state-television IRIB, which quoted an ambiguous source, and some foreign news agencies.

Ahmadinejad has already replaced three of his vice-presidents and reportedly also plans to change almost half of his cabinet members.

The president has faced criticism from his opponents, including opposition leader Mir-Hossein Moussavi, for making ideological choices in his administration rather than using qualified ministers.

The first change was the appointment of Ali-Akbar Salehi as vice-president and head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization. Salehi is a technocrat and ideologically not close to the president.

The rest of the cabinet members will be introduced to parliament in early August. Observers expect heated debates with the deputies who have to approve the choice of ministers.