Iranian President Nominates New Oil Minister

President Ahmadinejad (file photo) (AFP) 2 November 2005 -- Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad has nominated Sadeq Mahsouli as oil minister.
The job is considered to be one of the most prestigious and hotly contested posts in Iran's cabinet. Iran is the
second-biggest exporter in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

The original candidate submitted to the parliamentary energy commission board was conservative academic Aliasghar
Zarei. It is not immediately clear why the nomination was switched to Mahsouli. He now faces a parliamentary vote of
confidence.

Ahmadinejad made oil a keystone of his conservative reform manifesto, vowing to distribute the country's oil wealth
more fairly among Iran's people.

(Reuters)