Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad suffered a sharp setback yesterday when his nominee for oil minister withdrew in the face of criticism from lawmakers about his wealth and lack of experience. Sadeq Mahsouli's departure is a domestic embarrassment for Ahmadinejad, who has caused a storm abroad by calling for Israel to be "wiped off the map". The new president has staked his political reputation on bringing his close allies from the conservative religious camp into the Islamic Republic's most prestigious jobs.