New Iranian defense minister gets nod

TEHRAN, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Iranian lawmakers debated Cabinet ministers for the next administration of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, supporting a controversial defense pick.

For the third straight day, members of Parliament debated 11 new ministers proposed by Ahmadinejad for his next administration.

None of the lawmakers expressed positions on the ministers for agriculture, justice or defense, suggesting tacit approval, state-funded broadcaster Press TV reports.

Several of the Cabinet picks are controversial both in Tehran and internationally. The nomination of Ahmad Vahidi as the next defense minister was condemned as Interpol wants the former military commander for his role in the bombing of a Jewish center in Argentina in 1994 that killed 85 people.

Early reports suggested Iranian lawmakers would vote in opposition of the three female candidates picked by Ahmadinejad. Sousan Keshavarz, who was nominated as the next education minister, was singled out for her alleged ties to opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi.

Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi, the choice for health minister, is expected to get the nod, however.

Ahmadinejad submitted his nominations to Parliament on Aug. 19, picking 11 new candidates for the 21-member Cabinet. Lawmakers took up the debate over the next administration Sunday.

Parliament is scheduled to issue a vote on the Cabinet by as early as Wednesday. Critics of Ahmadinejad had suggested lawmakers would reject "about half" of the picks.