TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s president on Sunday dismissed criticism of appointments and dismissals from his Cabinet without parliamentary approval. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s remarks in a televised speech risked widening a rift with the parliament and with hard-liners intent on limiting his power or even impeaching him. Ahmadinejad decided to streamline his Cabinet by combining eight ministries into four. The parliament insisted it must approve the appointments of the new ministers, but Ahmadinejad refused. Instead, he appointed caretaker ministers, including himself as caretaker oil minister. Read full article > >

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Iran President Ahmadinejad dismisses criticism of appointments, feuds with Supreme Leader