TEHRAN – In an order released on Sunday, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad appointed Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaii as chairman of the president’s office.

In his order the president said, “I appoint you, who are a faithful, devoted, and fully trustable person, as advisor and chairman of president’s office.”
The appointment came after Rahim-Mashaii resigned his post as first vice president following an order from the Supreme Leader who had stated that the appointment of Rahim-Mashaii as first vice president is not in the interests of the government and causes “rift and disappointment” among the supporters of the president himself