Vice President for Executive Affairs Ali Saidlu of Iran

Saidlu is considered an ally of Ahmadinejad, but the rejection of his bid to head the Oil Ministry was not unexpected, mainly because of his lack of experience in this sector.

The American-educated Ali Saidlu was named as oil minister.

Oil Minister Ali Saidlu is known to be Ahmadinejads right-hand man during his mayorship.

Authorities are concerned about the fact that Saidlu has been appointed as the oil minister of Iran, which possesses the world's fourth big oil resources, because he has no related experience other than a geoology education.

Saidlu said the government of President Ahmadinejad has made fundamental administrative changes that have reduced bureaucracy, among other positive results.

Saidlu is considered a close ally of Ahmadinejad, and was apparently echoing the presidents recent comments.

Saidlu was received at Kuwait International Airport by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, head of the honorary delegation and Advisor at His Highness the Crown Prince's Diwan Dhari Abdullah Al-Othman, and Governors of Jahra, Farwaniya, Hawali areas SHeikh Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Abdulhamid Hajji Abdulraheem, and Abdullah Abdulrahman Al-Faris respectively.

Saidlu said Iran's nuclear activity is transparent and for peaceful purposes.

During the meeting with Wen, Saidlu said Iran's nuclear activity was transparent and for peaceful purposes.

The visit to Beirut by a high-placed Iranian delegation headed by Vice President Ali Saidlu was symbolic in this regard.