TEHRAN — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad received a broad mandate Thursday as parliament backed his main Cabinet choices — naming the first female minister since the 1979 Islamic Revolution but showing international defiance by supporting a suspected planner of the bombing of an Argentine Jewish center that killed 85 people.
The conservative-dominated legislature rejected Ahmadinejad’s choice for energy minister and two other women nominated for less-prominent posts. The rest of his 21-member Cabinet was approved.
The broad backing was somewhat stronger than many in Iran had expected because even some of the president’s fellow conservatives had criticized him for nominating unqualified ministers.
Ahmadinejad is also under fire for the abuse of protesters detained following the disputed June presidential election, which the pro-reform opposition claims he stole with massive vote fraud.
Analysts said parliament’s strong support could indicate that despite differences among conservatives, they believe it is better to present a fairly united front as Iran faces possible harsher international sanctions over its nuclear program and continued pressure from reformists at home.
The most defiant message parliament sent was its overwhelming support for Ahmad Vahidi as defense minister. He is wanted over charges of involvement in the 1994 bombing of the Argentine-Israeli Mutual Association building in Buenos Aires.
Vahidi was the commander of a special unit of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard at the time of the attack and is one of five prominent Iranians sought by Argentina in the bombing.
Vahidi received 227 votes — the most of any of the proposed ministers.
Jose Scaliter, vice president of the Argentine-Israeli Mutual Association, told Argentina’s Jewish News Agency Thursday that Vahidi’s approval “is an absolute shame.”
