Final day for Cabinet vetting in Iran

TEHRAN, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Iranian lawmakers proceeded Wednesday with what is expected to be their final day of deliberations over nominees for the next portfolio of Cabinet ministers.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad outlined his choice of 11 new ministers to fill the ranks of his 21-member Cabinet in August.

Deliberations kicked off Sunday, with the president outlining his agenda for his next term and defending his Cabinet decisions.

The international community, as well as lawmakers in Tehran, reacted to some of the more controversial picks.

Heyder Moslehi, picked for the next intelligence minister, was condemned for his close ties to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei while Mostafa Mohammad Najjar was scrutinized as the choice for interior minister due to his former position in the elite Revolutionary Guard.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Vahidi, expected to be confirmed as the next defense minister, was widely admonished because Interpol wants the former military commander for his role in the bombing of a Jewish center in Argentina in 1994 that killed 85 people.

Sousan Keshavarz, nominated as the next education minister, was singled out for her alleged ties to opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi.

Lawmakers on Wednesday consider eight of the remaining ministers, including Ali Akbar Mehrabian who was nominated for the Ministry of Industry and Mines, Iran's Press TV reports.

Ahmadinejad has a final opportunity to defend his Cabinet decisions before lawmakers wrap up their debates.