Iran Parliament OKs Jewish Attack Suspect

Iran's conservative-dominated parliament approved most of President Mahmoud Ahamedinejad's choices for key Cabinet posts Thursday, including endorsing the defense minister nominee who is wanted by Argentina for a deadly 1994 bombing of a Jewish cultural center.

The broad mandate from lawmakers was a boost for the embattled president and considered a vote of confidence for his crackdowns on political opponents and tough stance against Western pressure for talks on the nation's nuclear program.

Ahmadinejad has faced questions about the experience and expertise of some choices for his 21-seat Cabinet, but managed to win approval for many key posts that included the foreign, interior, intelligence ministries and Ahmad Vahidi as defense minister.

The parliament also backed Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi as health minister, making her the Islamic Republic's first female minister since the 1979 Islamic Revolution

It was not a clean sweep, though, for Ahmadinejad as he faces increasing internal dissent following his disputed re-election victory in June.

Lawmakers rejected three nominees: the important energy ministry post and two women proposed for the welfare and social security ministries.

The new defense minister Vahidi gained support earlier this week when lawmakers said they would not bow to foreign pressures to reject him. Vahidi is wanted over charges of involvement in the bombing of the Jewish center in Buenos Aires that left 85 people dead.

Vahidi is one of five prominent Iranians sought by Argentina in the bombing. He was the commander of a special unit of Iran's Revolutionary Guard known as the Quds Force at the time of the attack.