Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie, who Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s chose for vice president, has denied media reports he has quit, according to his website. “Certain Internet sites published a report about Mr Mashaie’s resignation as first vice president in a coordinated action aimed at tarnishing the government,” said a statement on his personal website http://www.mashaie.ir. “This is a lie, and these rumors have been spread by the enemies… of the government,” it said.
On Sunday, state-owned English-language channel Press TV reported that Mashaie, a close aide to Ahmadinejad, had resigned three days after his appointment.