Sajjadi fails to win Iran Majlis vote

During a Majlis open session on Tuesday, a total of 247 deputies cast their votes. Sajjadi failed to receive a vote of confidence after 137 Iranian lawmakers voted against and 87 for him and 23 abstained, Majlis news agency (ICANA) reported. 

According to the Majlis ratification, the Physical Education Organization and the National Youth Organization merged to form the Ministry of Sports and Youth. 

In a letter sent to Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani on Monday, President Ahmadinejad introduced Sajjadi as the candidate to head the newly-established ministry. 

The announcement came after the top Iranian parliamentarian filed an official complaint with the Judiciary against President Ahmadinejad and criticized the administration for refraining from implementing a ratification concerning the formation of the new ministry. 

However, Ahmadinejad's letter to Larijani has drawn negative reactions from Iranian lawmakers. 

A member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Majlis, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, described the letter as a "goblet of poison" for the Parliament and demanded that the speaker returns it to the government. 

Larijani then responded by saying that he did not like the letter and its rationalizations but urged lawmakers to not consider the letter as a "goblet of poison" and allow the Majlis to pass over the issue. 

He further stressed that he considers the letter wrong and unjustifiable but said he sees no need to return it to the government.