Iran may lose OPEC chairmanship

Emad Khosseini, the press secretary of the Iranian parliamentary
commission on energy, has called on the country's president to appoint
a new petroleum minister, warning that Iran may lose the OPEC
chairmanship, Iran News reports.

Khosseini added that the parliament will demand explanations as to why
a new minister has not been appointed yet.

Three ministers, including Petroleum Minister Seyed Massoud Mirkazemi,
were dismissed. President Ahmadinejad is temporarily heading the
Petroleum Ministry.

Iranian Vice-Speaker Mohammad Reza Bahonar said that Ahmadinejad is
violating the law and urged him to find a new minister for the
position.

The ministers, who actually supported the president, were dismissed
due to the reduction in the number of ministries as part of a
five-year plan.

The parliament demands a restructuring of the Cabinet, which is much
too large for efficient work, the legislators say. The parliament,
which mainly consists of conservatives, wants any government changes
to be made with their approval.

Iran is the 2nd largest oil extractor of OPEC after Saudi Arabia.