Iran assembly approves most of hard-line Cabinet

Iran’s conservative-dominated parliament approved most of President Mahmoud Ahamedinejad’s choices for key Cabinet posts today, including endorsing the defence minister nominee who is wanted by Argentina for a deadly 1994 bombing of a Jewish cultural centre.

The broad mandate from lawmakers was a boost for the embattled president and considered a vote of confidence for his crackdowns on political opponents and tough stance against Western pressure for talks on the nation’s nuclear programme.