Ahmadinejad defends Cabinet picks

TEHRAN, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- The political climate in Tehran in the post-election environment brought about the need for key changes in the next government, the Iranian president said.

Political upheaval followed the disputed June 12 election that secured a second term for Iranian President Ahmadinejad, who faced sharp criticism over the nominations of 11 new ministers for his next administration.

Ahmadinejad, in a televised address, said the political conditions in Tehran prompted the change to his Cabinet, state-funded broadcaster Press TV reports.

"The conditions of the country have changed, so have the necessities," he said. "Therefore, new missions have emerged for the government."

Ahmadinejad announced Thursday he would replace 11 ministers in his 21-seat Cabinet. Among the controversial nominations were Heyder Moslehi, a former representative of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, picked as the next intelligence minister, and Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, a former top official in the elite Revolutionary Guard, for interior minister.

Mohammad Reza Bahonar, the vice speaker of the Iranian Parliament, said lawmakers would reject "about five" of those ministers.

Bahonar had called for a no-confidence vote prior to the Thursday announcement as Cabinet developments emerged following the June election.

Ahmadinejad faced criticism during his first term for making frequent Cabinet changes.