Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to fire the newly appointed First Vice President Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie, Iran 's English-language satellite channel Press TV reported on Friday.

The appointment of Mashaie "is contrary to your interests and that of the government and a cause for divisions and frustration among your supporters," Khamenei was quoted as saying in a letter to Ahmadinejad.

"It is necessary for this appointment to be declared null and void," the Iranian supreme leader said.

The official IRNA news agency reported last Friday that Ahmadinejad had appointed Mashaie, who had been a vice president and head of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, as the new first vice president.

Ahmadinejad said Mashaie replaced incumbent First Vice President Parviz Davoudi, who was appointed adviser to the president.

The appointment prompted widespread condemnation from conservative circles, who objected to Mashaie's reported statement last year that Iran was a "friend of the Israeli people."

(Xinhua News Agency July 25, 2009)