Iranian leader faces crisis

IRAN’S novice President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad named an obscure figure as oil minister yesterday, risking a domestic political storm after already stirring one abroad with his call for Israel’s destruction.

Parliamentarians signalled they could veto Sadeq Mahsouli’s appointment to run the oil portfolio, just as they threw out an attempt to place a close ally in charge of the ministry in August.

Mr Ahmadinejad’s three-month-old government also faced sharp criticism from reformists for its decision to recall dozens of experienced ambassadors at a time of heightened international concern over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.