Mashai forced to stand down as Iranian Vice President

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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has caved into pressure from hardline clerics and the country's supreme leader. And he is allowing the resignation of his top deputy after a week-long standoff.

Ahmadinejad selected Esfandiar Rahim Mashai as his choice for the post of First Vice President last week. But hardliners rejected the move. (CCTV.com)

Ahmadinejad selected Esfandiar Rahim Mashai as his choice for the post of First Vice President last week. But hardliners rejected the move.

The final blow apparently was the public reading on state television on Friday of an order issued earlier by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

It called for the dismissal of Mashai because he is "contrary" to the "interests of the president and the government".

Last year, as vice president in charge of tourism and cultural heritage, Mashai angered conservatives when he made friendly comments toward Israel.

Iran's first vice president is the most important because he succeeds the president if he dies, is incapacitated or steps down, or is removed.