Iran's controversial first VP walks out

Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's controversial choice for first vice president, walked away from the job following hardliners' intense opposition to his appointment, Al Arabiya reported Sunday.

Mashaie called it quits "three days after his appointment" as first vice president in one of the shortest lived diplomatic posts in Iran.

There was no immediate independent confirmation of Mashaie's resignation.

The opposition cries out

On Friday, Ahmadinejad announced Mashaie's appointment, replacing Parviz Davoudi and igniting a series of strong outbursts from hardliners opposing this choice.

"It is imperative to terminate the appointment of Mashaie as first vice president in order to respect the wishes of the majority of the people," said Hossein Shariatmadari, managing director of the hard-line Kayhan newspaper who was appointed by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"When people found out about the appointment, they viewed this move as one taken not just in bad taste...but as one which shows indifference (towards them)," he wrote in an editorial.

Shariatmadari said Ahmadinejad is expected to "reconsider his decision as for him the view of the people is very important."

The appointment of Mashaie, a close Ahmadinejad aide, had been expected to ruffle feathers among hardliners and clerical groups that heavily influence politics in the Islamic republic.

When people found out about the appointment, they viewed this move as one taken not just in bad taste... but as one which shows indifference (towards them)

Hossein Shariatmadari, managing director of the Kayhan newspaper

The Mashaie controversies

Mashaie, whose daughter is married to Ahmadinejad's son, is a controversial figure who last year was rapped by hardliners and Khamenei for saying Iran is a "friend of the Israeli people."

Mashaie also came under fire for hosting a ceremony in November where women in traditional dress carried in Muslim's holy book, the Quran, to music, an action deemed insulting to Koran.

Lawmaker Hamid Rasai said Iranian society was very sensitive over Mashaie, a close relative to Ahmadinejad through marriage.

"I believe it would have been better if he had not been appointed," the Etemad-e Melli newspaper quoted Rasai, an ally of Ahmadinejad, as saying.

A pro-reform lawmaker said Ahmadinejad could be impeached over his decision.

"Now lawmakers can question Ahmadinejad or even impeach him for this appointment," the newspaper quoted Dariush Ghanbari as saying. Analysts say Ahmadinejad's impeachment is unlikely, as parliament is dominated by hardliners.

I believe it would have been better if he had not been appointed

Lawmaker Hamid Rasai

Ahmad Khatami, a leading hard-line cleric and a Friday prayer leader in Tehran, also slammed Mashaie's appointment.

"This appointment has been made in defiance to the members of the Assembly of Experts, the majlis (parliament) and several elite who have often mentioned that the post is a sensitive one," Khatami was quoted as saying in Jam-e Jam newspaper.

He urged Ahmadinejad to reconsider.

"Although this is his last time as two-time consecutive president, his choice should not challenge the movement to which he belongs," Khatami said.

"I therefore urge Mr. Ahmadinejad to reconsider his choice before the wave of criticism spreads."

Hard-line opposition over Mashaie is a sign of the difficulties Ahmadinejad may face in forming his new cabinet.

This appointment has been made in defiance to the members of the Assembly of Experts, the majlis (parliament) and several elite who have often mentioned that the post is a sensitive one

Ahmad Khatami, a leading hard-line cleric

Several clerical groups have openly spoken out over his disputed June 12 presidential victory when street protests against the result triggered the worst crisis in Iran since the revolution.

Hamid Reza Katouzian, chairman of the parliament's energy commission, said Ahmadinejad made a "mistake" in appointing Mashaie.

"I am of the opinion that this choice will have repercussions," he told the Mehr news agency. "Mr. Ahmadinejad has always showed us that he is 100 percent heedless of advice in situations that are highly sensitive."

Announcing Mashaie's appointment, Ahmadinejad praised him as a "pious and dedicated" man who believes in the principles of the Islamic revolution.

Mr. Ahmadinejad has always showed us that he is 100 percent heedless of advice in situations that are highly sensitive

Hamid Reza Katouzian, chairman of the parliament energy commission