After four days of debate, the Iranian parliament (Majlis) on 15 August endorsed 15 of the 18 ministers nominated by President Hassan Rohani for his first cabinet, including Bijan Namdar Zanganeh as Petroleum Minister (see p6).

President Rohani told the Majlis before the vote he had no better nominee than Mr Zanganeh to run the oil ministry. In Iran, parliament votes for each nominee individually. The three nominees who failed to gain the vote of confidence were those for science, education and sports. (CONTINUED - 1150 WORDS)