Iran’s Leader Announces Government Shake-Up

Iranian President Hashemi Rafsanjani announced a government shake-up Sunday apparently aimed at consolidating his grip before pushing ahead with tough economic measures.

The Cabinet changes had been expected after he fell far short of a landslide victory in national elections in June. Several of the seven new ministers proposed are strong allies of Rafsanjani, who has fought Muslim hard-liners to modernize Iran’s economy and re-establish ties with the West.

The candidates must be approved by Parliament within two weeks.

In a letter to Parliament, Rafsanjani proposed Mohammed Forouzandeh as minister of defense. He has held key positions in Iran’s Defense Ministry and arms industry.

Another key Rafsanjani aide, outgoing Defense Minister Akbar Torkan, was designated as minister of roads and transportation.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Mohammed Besharati was proposed as minister of the interior to succeed Abdullah Nouri, a powerful hard-liner responsible for organizing the national elections.

The shake-up involved a larger number of ministers than expected, but predictions that Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati and Oil Minister Gholamreza Aghazadeh would lose their jobs did not materialize.

Aghazadeh had come under criticism for not forecasting lower oil prices, leaving the government’s economic projections in disarray. Velayati has been criticized by hard-liners for being too liberal.