Fury over Mr Ahmadinejad's handling of government appointments has risen steadily within the mainstream conservative majority in the country's parliament.
Mohammad Sharif Malekzadeh, who had been appointed deputy foreign minister just four days ago, was forced to resign after a backlash in parliament. MPs had started impeachment procedures against Ali Akbar Salehi, the foreign minister, for elevating a man with a criminal background as his deputy.
Mr Malekzadeh said his resignation should remove the threat of impeachment. "Despite dastardly manipulations and plentiful injustices done against me, I can't accept that you suffer from unjust pressures because of me," he wrote to Mr Salehi.
Despite the abject tone of the letter, MPs vowed to press ahead with the impeachment of Mr Salehi.
Political analysts suggest the ultimate target of the MPs is Mr Ahmadinejad and his controversial right hand man, Esfandiar Mashaie, the president's chief of staff. Mr Malekzadeh served as foreign affairs adviser to the chief of staff.
Mr Ahmadinejad is believed to be viewed with suspicion by the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, who holds ultimate authority in official matters. Mr Mashaie, who's son is married to the president's daughter, has been accused of orchestrating secret contacts with Iran's enemies, including the US, Saudi Arabia and Israel. » | Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent | Tuesday, June 21, 2011
