Iran’s parliament on Tuesday approved one of President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad’s closest allies as interior minister.

Sadegh Mahsouli, who was voted in by the narrowest of margins, receiving 138 votes out of 275 parliamentarians present - takes charge of the country’s security at a crucial time ahead of presidential elections in June, in which Mr Ahmadi-Nejad is hoping to win a second term in office.