The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei ordered President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to remove his vice president, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie.
"The appointment of Mr Rahim Mashaie as vice president is against your interests and those of the government, and it will cause discord and frustration among your supporters. It is necessary to nullify the appointment," Ayatollah Khamenei said in a letter to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.