Iran MPs support minister wanted by Argentina

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's parliament signaled its support on Tuesday for the hardline president's choice as defense minister of a man Argentina says was involved in the 1994 bombing of a Buenos Aires Jewish center that killed 85.

One member of parliament, Hadi Qavami, interrupted a speech by Defense Minister-designate Ahmad Vahidi to say he had initially opposed Vahidi's nomination but had changed his mind after "the Zionists' allegations" and would now vote for him.

His remark drew praise from other deputies and chants of "Death to Israel," Iran's arch-foe. Iran has repeatedly denied any link to the attack in the Argentinian capital.

Under parliamentary rules, two MPs can take the floor to

oppose a ministerial nominee, but no one did so in the case of Vahidi, a sign the legislature will back him in a vote of confidence on Wednesday.

Parliament must approve each member of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's cabinet and some deputies have criticized him for naming several ministers without relevant experience, including proposed Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi.

The outcome is seen as a test of Ahmadinejad's hold on power in the fifth-largest oil exporter, after his disputed re-election in June which plunged Iran into its deepest internal crisis since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Argentina last month condemned the nomination of Vahidi, a senior Revolutionary Guards official who was deputy defense minister in the outgoing government, as "an affront to the victims" of the attack 15 years ago.

"ENEMY'S THREATS"

Buenos Aires has formally accused Iran of masterminding the bombing and is seeking the arrest of several high-ranking Iranian government officials.

Iran denies involvement and the Foreign Ministry last week summoned Argentina's charge d'affairs to protest at what it said was his country's interference in Tehran's internal affairs.

In his address to parliament, Vahidi pledged to strengthen Iran's defense capability and said its armed forces were "strong enough to protect the country and the revolution against the enemies' threats."

Iran says Western powers, the United States and Britain in particular, fomented huge opposition protests that erupted after the June presidential election. They have rejected the charge.

Of the seven other ministerial nominees who appeared in parliament on Tuesday, there was no criticism of the proposed justice and agriculture ministers.

The debate began on Sunday and will continue on Wednesday. Parliament speaker Ali Larijani said he hoped the vote on all 21 ministerial nominees would take place on Wednesday afternoon.

"The MPs are carefully examining the proposed ministers' background and abilities to find whether they are experienced enough to form a powerful cabinet," he told state television.

The legislature is dominated by conservatives, but some Ahmadinejad supporters have abandoned him since the election, which exposed deepening splits within the establishment. Moderates say the vote was rigged but the authorities deny this.

Analysts believe the cabinet will win approval but say a stormy debate could damage Ahmadinejad politically at a time when Iran is also embroiled in a row with the West over its nuclear program. The United States suspects Iran aims to build an atomic arsenal, but Tehran says its aims are peaceful.

Some deputies have questioned the nomination of current Commerce Minister Massoud Mirkazemi as the new oil minister, but conservative MP Vali Esmaili said on Monday there was a "high possibility" he would be confirmed.

Four years ago, parliament rejected four of Ahmadinejad's nominees, including the oil minister. If a candidate is voted down, the president has three months to put forward a new name.

(Editing by Tim Pearce)