Azernews.Az

TEHRAN – Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will act as temporary caretaker of the oil ministry after he dismissed the minister, Reuters reported.

Ahmadinejad dismissed Massoud Mirkazemi and two other ministers on Saturday as part of a plan to merge several ministries to cut their number to 17 from 21. "I am the caretaker of the Oil Ministry," state television on Monday quoted Ahmadinejad as saying.

By law the president has three months after removing a minister to introduce a new candidate to parliament. During that period he can act as caretaker himself or appoint someone to the post.

Iran currently holds the one-year rotating presidency of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting countries (OPEC), ministers of which are next due to meet on June 8 in Vienna to discuss oil output policy.

The country has said it is content with prices around current levels, unlike some other members of the cartel who would prefer lower levels. OPEC pumps more than a third of the world's oil.

Iranian media quoted an energy official as saying on Monday it was not clear whether Ahmadinejad would attend OPEC meetings himself or send someone else.

A shake-up of the department in charge of the world's fifth-biggest crude oil exports had been expected after officials said earlier this month the oil and energy ministries and the labour and social welfare ministries would be merged.

The government says the merger will produce a more streamlined and efficient administration.

Parliament would have to approve the remit of any new ministry. Iran's top authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has discretion over key ministries, including those dealing with oil, foreign affairs, intelligence and the interior.

Getting approval from parliament, where the speaker, Ali Larijani, has publicly criticised Ahmadinejad's domestic and economic policies, will not be easy for the president.