Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s dispute with parliament has intensified with the possibility that the Supreme Leader may once again intervene in one of the president’s decisions.
Ahmadinejad has reportedly sent a letter to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, calling for his support in preventing the creation of a Sports Ministry.
However, Conservative MPs say parliament and the Guardian Council have already approved plans for a sports ministry; therefore, it is incumbent on the government to establish one.
The issue has been controversial because the president’s chief of staff, Esfandianr Rahim Mashai, has announced his office’s view that such a ministry would not benefit the array of sports played in Iran.
Iranian conservative MP Hassan Ghafourifard has spoken out against Ahmadinejad’s attempt to involve Ayatollah Khamenei in the matter, calling the move both “illegal and inappropriate.” He adds that the government should have spoken up about its problems with the proposed ministry when the plan was being reviewed by parliament.
Ahmadinejad has been at odds with parliament and, most recently, even with the Supreme Leader over the president’s policies and decisions around his ministries.
Ayatollah Khamenei recently overruled his decision to change his minister of intelligence, which led to Ahmadinejad’s boycotting of official duties for close to 10 days.
