LONDON - Iranian lawmakers have given
President Hassan Rouhani one month to appear before parliament
to answer questions on his government's handling of Iran's
economic struggles, state media reported on Wednesday.
It is the first time parliament has summoned Rouhani, who is
under pressure from hardline rivals to change his cabinet
following a deterioration in relations with the United States
and Iran's growing economic difficulties.
Lawmakers want to question Rouhani on topics including the
rial's decline, which has lost more than half its value since
April, weak economic growth and rising unemployment, according
to semi-official ISNA news agency.
Rouhani, a pragmatist who reduced tensions with the West by
striking a nuclear deal in 2015, is facing a growing backlash
since U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out from the pact in
May and said he will reimpose sanctions that seek to throttle
Iran’s economy, including its lifeblood oil exports.
ISNA said lawmakers also want Rouhani to explain why, more
than two years after the landmark deal, Iranian banks still have
only limited access to global financial services.
The nuclear accord curbed Iran's nuclear programme in return
for lifting most international sanctions.
Rouhani's summon coincides with further shows of public
discontent. A number of protests have broken out in Iran since
the beginning of the year over high prices, water shortage,
power cuts, and alleged corruption in the Islamic Republic.
On Tuesday, hundreds of people rallied in cities across the
country, including Isfahan, Karaj, Shiraz and Ahvaz, in protest
against high inflation caused in part by the weak rial.
Parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani was quoted by state
television as saying that Rouhani will have one month to attend
a parliamentary session and address the issues.
Rouhani cancelled an interview on state television last
week, a move that seems to have encouraged many lawmakers to
question him about his economic records in the parliament.
Although 80 lawmakers submitted their questions for Rouhani,
a Rouhani ally, vice president for parliamentary affairs
Hosseinali Amiri, called the process "unconstitutional."
"Some lawmakers, who were convinced to take back their
questions, were encouraged by other members of parliament to
submit the questions again," Amiri was quoted as saying by
Tasnim news agency.
"MAXIMUM SHAKE-UP"
Trump said on Monday he would be willing to meet Rouhani
without preconditions to discuss how to improve relations, but
senior Iranian officials and military commanders rejected the
offer as worthless and "a dream".
Addressing Washington, Hesamoddin Ashna, a Rouhani advisor,
said in a tweet on Wednesday that "You launched an economic war
against us by imposing sanctions. First stop this war and then
ask for talks. Without preconditions means without sanctions."
Israeli Regional Cooperation Minister Tzachi Hanegbi, a
member of Israel's security cabinet, said on Wednesday Trump's
offer of talks was a "ladder" to safety for a ruling system he
said was on the point of collapse, but he was not surprised that
Tehran rejected it.
"It is hard to see the Iranians… being agreeable to such a
meeting with someone who only a few weeks ago basically sank an
agreement with which they were so pleased. But this is the right
kind of process with the Iranians," Hanegbi told Israel Radio.
Rouhani appointed a new central bank governor last week and
accepted the government spokesman's resignation on Tuesday,
suggesting he accepts a need to reshuffle his economic team.
In a separate letter to Rouhani on Wednesday, 193 lawmakers
welcomed these changes "as a good starting point" and asked for
the "maximum shake-up" in the government.
Hardline general prosecutor Mohammad Jafar Montazeri said on
Wednesday Iran's enemies were trying to divide government and
people by creating economic hardship. He vowed that those who
follow the "enemies' plot" would face the "harshest punishment".