Iran gets caretaker oil minister

TEHRAN, June 3 (UPI) -- The former head of the physical education organization in Iran is tasked with overseeing the Ministry of Oil, a presidential decree declared.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad named Mohammed Ali-Abadi the caretaker oil minister. Tehran is planning to merge several ministries including energy and oil.

"Considering your commitment, knowledge, and useful executive experience and in accordance with Article 135 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and based on this decree, you (Ali-Abadi) are appointed as acting oil minister," Iran's state-funded broadcaster Press TV quoted Ahmadinejad's decree as stating.

Masoud Mir Kazemi was removed as the country's oil minister in March and Ahmadinejad later declared himself caretaker minister.

Members of Parliament wrote to top officials complaining the earlier move by Ahmadinejad to not appoint a caretaker official to control the Ministry of Oil was illegal.

Ahmadinejad is facing increasing opposition following investigations into members of his inner circle. In a speech to Parliament later broadcast on state television, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sought to allay concerns of alleged internal divisions, however.

Iran holds the rotating president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, which meets next week in Vienna.