President's choice: Gholamhossein Nozari
Ahmadinejad names his man
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has proposed Gholamhossein Nozari, now caretaker oil minister, take on the position permanently, according to reports.
The move, reported on state radio, has been widely expected, Reuters reported.
Parliament has to approve Cabinet ministers. The former oil minister, Kazem Vaziri-Hamaneh who was sacked in August, was the president's fourth choice for the post after lawmakers rejected three other candidates, mainly because of a lack of experience.
But several lawmakers have previously indicated that the nomination of Nozari, head of the state-run National Iranian Oil Company, would be viewed positively.
"I introduce ... Gholamhossein Nozari as the proposed minister for the oil ministry to parliament to get a vote of confidence," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in a letter that was read out to parliament, broadcast live on Iranian radio.
The move to replace Vaziri-Hamaneh was seen by analysts as an effort by the president to assert more control over the ministry.
Vaziri-Hamaneh had differences with Ahmadinejad over management changes in the ministry, industry experts told Reuters.
One analyst said the appointment earlier this month of a new oil vice-minister, Ali Kordan, seen as an ally of the president but who has little direct oil experience, also suggested Ahmadinejad was strengthening his influence on the ministry.
The vice-minister does not need parliament's approval.