Tehran: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's press adviser has rejected reports of conflict within Iran's leadership over the resignation of the intelligence minister, calling it anti-government propaganda by the state-run media.
"The lying media, claiming the supreme leader has refused the change of the intelligence minister, are executing new scenarios against the government and pretending the president isn't loyal to the supreme leader," Ali Akbar Javanfekr wrote on his website on Monday. "Changing a minister in such a strategic and important ministry is impossible without coordination between the president and the dear supreme leader."
Iran's intelligence minister Haidar Moslehi on Sunday offered his resignation, which was immediately accepted by Ahmadinejad, Press TV said.
State-run media including Fars, Mehr and the Iranian Students News Agency reported late on Sunday that the decision was overturned within hours by the country's highest authority, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who apparently ordered Moslehi to remain in his post.
Ministerial choices
Though Khamenei has been a supporter of Ahmadinejad and his government, he has at times overruled the president's appointments. Ahmadinejad will be acting intelligence minister until Moslehi's successor is nominated, Javanfekr said.
No one was immediately available to comment at the president's office for media affairs or at the Foreign Ministry spokesman's office.
