Iran’s parliament has approved President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s choice of a senior Revolutionary Guards commander who is under international sanctions to head the influential oil ministry.

Lawmakers endorsed the president’s choice of General Rostam Qasemi by an overwhelming majority on Wednesday. He is taking control of the oil ministry at a time when Iran holds the rotating presidency of OPEC .

Qasemi is under U.S. and European Union sanctions for his involvement in Iran’s controversial nuclear program.

The U.S. State Department says four subsidiaries of a construction company that he oversaw for the military were involved in projects that support Iran’s suspected efforts to build nuclear weapons and support terrorist activities. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful.

Mr. Ahmadinejad nominated Qasemi in July after clashing with parliament earlier this year. Lawmakers criticized the president after he had at first appointed himself to head the oil ministry.